Birthday Thoughts

It's a few minutes past midnight

so technically yesterday 2/24 was my birthday.

I was thinking about my upcoming birthday the night before last. Thoughts included how I feel like I'm very young in spirit but betrayed by my true age. I reflected on the things I had done and hadn't done over my many years..the joys and disappointments -- my journey thus far and the future ahead.



Knowing I would be alone on my birthday, I could have taken the woe-is-me attitude, but determined that was not to be the case. I have so much to be grateful for that to complain about being alone would be a slap in the face for all God brings to my life.



So I awoke on my big birthday morning happy to be alive! Thank you Lord for another day, one you created for me.

Today is the day that the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

OK, Lord - I WILL!

I plopped a nice pork roast in the crock pot and enjoyed that wonderful aroma all day long!! I knew I had a couple of small red potatos which would be done in a fast couple of minutes in the microwave when it came time to eat my birthday dinner. It was all so easy and quite tasty if I do say so myself. (You'll just have to take my word for it.) ;)

I had two phone calls wishing me Happy Birtday before 10 am. I am so blessed to have family and friends who care for me and make time for me. I had two more calls by 2 pm. Tons of well wishes on Facebook, in emails and snail mail has been arriving since Saturday from people who want me to know they care about me and wish me many blessings in the days ahead. I am so blessed in my relationships.

I was very aware of the Lord's goodness to me throughout the day. I am grateful His hand is on my life. He brought to mind some scripture that really changed my life around about five years into my walk with Him.

"I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

marvelous are your works, and my soul knows very well."

Psalm 139:14

In Hebrew the word fearfully means with great reverence. The word wonderfully means unique, set apart, uniquely marvelous. I am a unique and individually made creation of the Most High and Holy One. What more esteem does a person ever need than the knowledge of the love and care of God Himself! He set me free with that knowledge. Free to be the me that He made..the one that would follow Him all of her days.

Jeremiah 29:13 assures me..."For I know the thoughts (purposes) that I plan for you. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give me a future and a hope."

So I get ready to go to bed in a few minutes having had a wonderful blessed day, cared for by my family, friends and the Lord God Almighty feeling like the masterpiece He created and rejoicing in the days He has planned for me. Peaceful and content am I on this birthday in the year of our Lord 2009.

I've been Tagged

I've been Tagged!

I have been tagged by my friend in real life and fellow blogger Chachaneen (real name Janeen) I've yet to do one of these and wondered two things: I dont think my photos are in folders and I dont know four people to tag once I find the picture!!! I figured well I'll just do the 4th picture in the one big boy folder I do have LOL...and that is what I have done. Then I will tag two bloggers I am friends with.

Okay tagging

Lori @ Musings from a Proverbs 31 Wannabe

and Cathy @ Cocoroos Corner

Here's how it works: The instruction is to go into my photo collection, take the fourth folder and the fourth picture in that folder and explain it. Then tag four more bloggers to do the same.

So here is the picture...

Now the directions said to explain the picture. This is an area on Hwy 1 on the Pacific Coast of California north of Bodega Bay. (Famous for Hitchcock's BIRDS movie) Its at the Goat Rock area. You drive from the windy road out another windy road and down to the Rock. Then you can walk down further to the beach area with sand and surf.

A friend and I went out there on June 9, 2007. That was the one-year anniversary of the death of my son, Jeff. He loved the ocean so much being the fine surfer he was. The purpose of the trip was to scatter his ashes in this place. I had had them for a year...I planned on doing this at the one-year date. I was fine all day, we ate lunch at Lucas Wharf and proceeded up to Goat Rock. My friend got out of the vehicle first and I opened my door and then just kind of was overwhelmed by emotion of what I was going to do. I processed it and it took about 15 minutes for me to actually move forward by getting out and climbing the rocks. His ashes were scattered into the ocean he loved...the task was accomplished. Tears were shed, prayers said. It was a really solemn sacred kind of time. I'm glad I didn't have to do it alone and especially happy it was done with someone I treasure.

I keep a bit of his ashes in a beautiful starfish made especially for that purpose. I have it in my bedroom where I see it everyday and remember such a fine son as he. God bless him.

Facebook..yes, again!

Well, what can I say? I've been on Facebook and love it. I don't know how to pull out of that addiction quite yet. I've played numerous games raising money for the Rain Forest, cancer research, blankets for the homeless and catching up with old friends. It's perfect for wasting time...sucks you right in! They have many applications and one of them is MyFarm! Yes, a cyber farm!!! I love mine! I got carried away and planted tons of strawberries, got horses, cows, chickens and tons of orchards...oh then I had to spend my time harvesting my crops, replanting them etc. I uploaded a bigger farm to hold it all...then it just got worse...It's all I could do to keep up, so with $100,000 in cyber money on my farm, nice house, chicken coops, barns and a wood chopper...I decided to not grow crops...I am committed to letting the soil regain all the nutrients it needs for the suggested (somewhere I read this) seven (7) years. Now all I have to do is check the trees to make sure I pick the fruit. Nice life of a farmer..waiting for the Stimulus package to set in and pay me for NOT growing strawberries.

One suggestion today on Facebook was from my pal Lori who had an A-List deal...you go to google and type in your name and then 'needs', ie, Karen needs. Then a list will pop up (or someone's with the same name) ...a list of hilarious stuff...Here's mine...with my own observations in caps....

Karen Needs to Grow Up! NEVER
Karen Needs a New Job. YES I DO
Karen Needs A Lobotomy. WHO IS SURPRISED BY THIS? NOT ME
Karen needs to learn how to compliment her workers. I HAVE NO WORKERS
Karen needs to have full carbohydrate. stores, and be well hydrated. I NEED STORES?
Karen needs additional time for laundry and changing bed linen. I HAVE PLENTY OF TIME
Karen needs care and supervision twenty-fours hours a day NO KIDDING!!!
Karen needs to learn how to speak up for herself! I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS
Karen needs money to buy the roller skates she desperatelywants. I'D RATHER HAVE TAP SHOES
Karen needs a hairstyle that requires minimal styling. I DO ALREADY
Karen needs a rest. NO I DO NOT. ALL I DO IS REST
Karen needs to use the bathroom. USUALLY TRUE, I drink 100 oz of water a day!
Karen needs to tell her mom straight out to stop prying. ERR SHE STOPPED years ago
Karen needs the money for the mentoring pizza. NOW I WANT A PiZZA
Karen needs to get out of Clayborne quickly. DONT KNOW WHERE THE HECK CLAYBORNE IS
Karen needs someone to hold chimpy still while she rearranges his kneecaps. DID YOU SEE THE NEWS OF THAT BIG CHIMP AND WHAT HE DID? YIKES
Karen needs a break. FROM FACEBOOK obviously....

Vintage Friendship Postcard Friday

Marie @ Cpaphil Vintage Postcards hosts Friendship Fridays. Here's one I found that made me just smile. Winkie, winkie. Kiss me!!

IS THIS CUTE OR WHAT?

Bryan Waller, Clarksville, TN

My pal, Sheila from chat shared some music with me last night. Bryan is a relative of hers and leads worship at thier church. Was I blessed as I listened to his music...I know you will be as well. May the Lord continue to give this man of God a heart for Him that reflects that in all his music and very life.


Bryan Waller Indieheaven Discover The Future of Music Independent Christ


Shared with permission from Bryan

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE!

"The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced,

the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled,

and assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed

lest Rome become bankrupt.

People must learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

~ Cicero, 55 B.C.

How to achieve love and unity

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved,
put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, wih all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossiand 3:12-17 (NASB)

--oOo--

"Difficult moments ...seek God.

Quiet moments...worship God.

Painful moments...trust God.

Every moment...Thank God."