A Week of Birthday

I have to say, I think this is the best birthday I've had in several years. I'm not sure what made all the difference, but I definitely felt loved this year. My birthday week started last Thursday with dinner with my gal pals Mandy and Amy.

I have been friends with these girls for the past 10 years and I love them dearly. We had a great dinner together and they spoiled me with gifts, even though i begged them not to!

Wednesday was my actual birthday and I was flooded with Happy Birthday wishes via, facebook, text messages and phone calls. When I got to work I had a very sweet surprise!


My good friend Amanda sent me these beautiful flowers to work! I love flowers so I was thrilled. At work they treated me to Ichiban for lunch and it was SOO good! I was really looking forward to getting to church on Wednesday night because I share a birthday with one of the girls in my group.


This is Larissa. She is one of the sweetest girls and I love her so much. We share the same birthday and the same favorite color! I truly believe we are soul sisters! I always make cupcakes for whoever has a birthday in our group. Today we both got yellow cupcakes for our birthdays.


I got to catch up with a good friend after church and spent a couple of hours chatting. By the time I finally got home about 10:00 I was starving. I went to the fridge to see if I even had anything to eat and I found this . . .


One of my best friends and former roommates, Becky, had come and left me a cheesecake! This is my favorite dessert and I could not have been more thrilled. Notice, I had already eaten a piece before stopping to take a picture! I was so tickled. I love surprises!

Last night I was able to celebrate at P.F. Chang with another great group of friends. It rained all night long, but we didn't let that stop us from having a really great time. There is never a short supply of laughter when we are together.

I'm not sure if laughing while behind the wheel is the best option . . but we'll go with it. No night would be complete for us without a trip to Cold Stone Creamery. It;s amazing how full you can be, yet still make room for ice cream!


Our attempt to take a good picture failed us. It's hard to get one of the three of us where someone isn't doing something they wished they weren't in front of the camera. So, I will wrap up our night with this photo that I feel captures our true personalities! I love these two and am so blessed to have them in my life. They too, spoiled me this year!


I finally got to celebrate with my family today at lunch. Unfortunately I left my camera at home and wasn't able to document the party. I think my mom might have taken some pics of some of the activities so I will try to steal some from her. We had the best lunch. Grilled chicken, twice baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and of course cake and ice cream!! I received some great gifts as well! I can't believe I am 29 years old! God has blessed those years beyond measure. I feel so blessed that He hand picked my family for me before I was even born. I just can't imagine life getting much better. Thank you to everyone who made this birthday the best ever!

Praise Report

This is my happy face! We got the most amazing news on Monday! My mom is cancer free! The PET scan came back clear! She has been released for the next 6 months! What an amazing feeling. Not that we haven't stood firm on God's promise of healing, but there is just nothing like hearing it in the flesh. Just this morning I read the "faith chapter" in Hebrews (ch11), and was reminded that so many faithful men and women never actually saw their promises fulfilled, but only had a glipse of them. Yet, they remained faithful at every turn. And the Lord called them righteous! How sweet it is that He allowed us to witness a miracle in it's fullness! I can't thank all of you enough for the prayers and love you have given our family the past 9 months. Please continue to pray. And know that this miracle wasn't just for mom, it was to show His glory. That promise is true for all of us. We need to believe God to be big in our lives ,not matter what circumstance we are presented with! I can't wait to start our new ladies bible study next week. It's all about Believing God!

Remembering Tom

Today is a special day. Today my family will be remembering my grandfather Tom. It's his birthday today. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to be sad that he's gone, but simply thank God for all the wonderful years we had together. I really don't know any other man like him. He is still missed every day, but we know that He is with Jesus today. What a wonderful example he left our family with. He loved others and always put them before himself. It would take me blogging every day for the next year to share all the lessons he taught me and to share all the memories we had. But, for today I will just say Happy Birthday Tom, I love you.

Our God Reigns

"Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, ,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

How sweet is it to know that He has everything under control. It's so easy to become overwhelmed and anxious. God is telling us that the best cure for a worried heart is to turn it over to Him. Pray. Present your requests to Him, and do it with thanksgiving. I think it's hard for us to remember how blessed we are when we are worried or anxious over something. In those moments it seems like everything good just vanishes and all we can focus on is what the worry is about. We are blinded to the fact that God is still working and moving in us and around us. If nothing else in my life turned out like I thought it should, my life would still be overflowing with the most amazing blessings. It's so important to give God thanksgiving. After all, we would be nothing and have nothing if it were not for Him. Once you have done this, the peace will come. A peace so sweet it takes your breath away. It wraps around your soul like a blanket, making you feel all warm and safe inside. I love that peace. I love that God wants me to know that He loves me and He is taking care of everything. He wants us to know that there is nothing more "we" can do. It is in His hands, and what a better place for our worries to be! Letting go can be hard sometimes. I don't know why we want to hold on to things like worry, fear or anxiety . . . but we do. Let go today. Whatever is causing anxiety in your life, unneeded stress, or fear.

I love music as you can probably tell, but I have another song to share with you. I just downloaded the new Bethel Live worship album and it is great

"God I Look to You" Bethel Live

God I look to You
I won't be overwhelmed
Give me vision to see things like You do
God I look to You
You're where my help comes from
Give me wisdom, You know just what to do

I will love You Lord my strength
I will love you Lord my shield
I will love You Lord my rock
Forever all my days, I will love you God

Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Forfever all my days Hallelujah


I'm so thankful that He reigns and I don't!!! I have a prayer request today. Mom is going back to UAB to have a final scan. Please pray that she will experience that sweet peace today and she will hear that the scan is fine! Thank you all.

Quiet Time

There's really nothing better than having my quiet time outside in the mornings. This wasn't quite my exact view this morning, but you make the best of what you have! This week has been so nice with highs in the upper 60's and I hear it's going to reach 70 tomorrow! The best part is that I am off work! I love being outside. It somehow makes me feel closer to God. Right now in my quiet time I'm just sort of randomly reading. I need to find a better plan until we start our Beth Moore study. This morning I read some in John, and then turned to the Psalms. I found one of my favorite Psalms and once again it fills me with peace. I thought I would share it with you this morning.

Psalms 37
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;for like the grass they will soon wither, like the green plants they will soon die away.Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will do this; He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret, it will lead only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, but the Lord laughs at the wicked for He knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked. For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will last forever. In times of disaster they will not wither, in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. But the wicked will perish; The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish, vanish like smoke. The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously, those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off. If the Lord delights in a man's ways He will make his steps firm; though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hands. I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell int he land forever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives; but the Lord will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trail. Wait for the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off you will see it. I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in it's native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in Him."

So wow, I didn't realize how long that was until I began typing. I'm not sure why I didn't just copy and paste from an online source, but it soaked in a bit more by typing it all out. SOOO much good stuff in that one chapter. I wish I had time to break it all down, but I haven't left myself much time. Meditate on His word today. See how much He loves you and at what lengths He will go to to protect you in your time of trouble. He wants us to inherit the land and dwell with Him forever. All He asks is that we stay close to Him and keep peace! Our God is amazing.

Love

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I have always loved Valentine's Day, even though in 28 years I've never actually had a Valentine. I'm a hopeless romantic so I love the idea of setting aside a day to tell the people in your life how much you love them and make them feel extra special. Of course to me, Valentine's day isn't just about romantic love, it's about all types of love. So, for all of you singles out there, find someone you love and tell them how much today!


Since God is love, it would makes sense that He gave us the best description of exactly what love is.

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinth. 13: 4-8

I pray today that we would be able to love like this. Another great example of love that God gave us was Song of Songs. If you need an example of love just read a couple of chapters. There is a song by Jesus Culture called Dance With Me that is based on this book of the bible. It's a great love song. I'll leave the lyrics below. I hope everyone's Valentine's Day is filled with true love today!

Dance With Me by Jesus Culture

Behold You have come over the hills upon the mountain
To me, You will run. My Beloved, You've captured my heart

Won't You dance with me, Oh
Lover of my soul,
to the song of all songs?

With You, I will go You are my Love You are my Fair One
The winter has passed and the springtime has come

Won't You dance with me, Oh
Lover of my soul,
to the song of all songs?
Romance me, Oh
Lover of my soul
to the song of all songs.

Redemption

I had forgotten how much I loved this song until I heard it today. And, it totally says exactly what I was talking about in my blog yesterday! If you get a chance look it up and listen to it. I promise a blessing!

Redemption by Kristene Mueller

The darker the night
The brighter the day
The fiercer the fight
The stronger the faith
So I place my hope in You

The deeper sin
The stronger the blood
The more to forgive
The more reason to love
So I place my trust in You

In Your ways oh God
Redemption is so much better than perfection
In Your ways oh God

Over and over
You prove You're so faithful
Over and over
You prove Yourself a redeemer

The darker the night
The brighter the day
The fiercer the fight
The stronger the faith
So I place my hope in You

In Your ways oh God
Redemption is so much better than perfection
In Your ways oh God
Redemption is so much better than perfection
In Your ways oh God

Over and over
You prove You're so faithful
Over and over
You prove Yourself a redeemer

In Your ways I have
Redemption
So much better than perfection
So I place all my hope in You