When All is Said and Done – It's Still a Miracle!

On Sunday, my son called to check in on me. “What are you doing today, Mom?” “I’m going to church with Larry and Staci and then we’re going for my birthday lunch at Hutchins BBQ (my pick)! They’ll be out of town this week on my birthday.”

Then his audacious reply: “Mom, how is it going to feel to be 79?” “Ha! Ha! You know it’s 72 and here’s what I know. My President is two years older than me at 74. If he can run a country – I think I can run my little corner of the world. I’m amazed that President Trump could be in his retirement years and live in a peaceful place of ‘having arrived’ and be able to sit back and enjoy the fruit of his labors – but, NO! He preferred to give his all for our country to get on track again. He chose to not receive his salary – to just give it away. He chose to make tough decisions even though he has to put up with so much hate and lies about him. He chose to be a patriot – so in love with our Country, that he’s willing to lay down his life for us!” Tangent ended with my son barely getting a word in edgewise. Pardon me if I let you in on a personal vent. It’s the day after my birthday and I’m still in the celebration mode! And, as my young-whipper-snapper-self, I’m not ready to quit either. Not saying I want the responsibilities of a store clerk – never mind being president. But he sure inspires me to keep swinging.

Thank you for all the birthday love yesterday from my beloved social media friends and family. My, oh my! If you want to feel the love, be sure to be a friend on FB! My children were all out-of-town for my big day, but they showered me with love from afar and so did my FB friends! Isn't it a miracle that in a matter of seconds, we are transmitting birthday messages to each other -- unlike the old days of snail mail?

I’m grateful for my sweet cousin who took me for a yummy “crab legs” lunch and then to the “Painted Tree”, a new marketplace to Frisco, full of mini-shops of local shop owners, boutiques, decorators, artisans and craftsmen all under one roof. So much fun. Remember my tale yesterday about the “Miracles” book I received, with musings about my life being one of miracles? What captured my attention in Painted Tree was this metal sign that says “there will be miracles”! Of course it was my own birthday gift to me – as a reminder that there are miracles coming our way every day – we just need to expect them and recognize them when they come!

Here’s how I’ll recognize miracles! I will breathe in God’s goodness – that’s a miracle. I can breathe. I will see the sun rise and the sun set. That’s a miracle – I can see God’s creation. Yes, there will be miracles and most of all, the greatest miracle of all is when someone has lost their way, and by God’s amazing grace, their soul is set free. Miraculous the change in one who is redeemed through Calvary. There will be miracles when we see a lily push its way through the stubborn sod. But, most of all there will be miracles because we believe in God. There can be miracles when you believe. And, just in case you don't believe in miracles, perhaps you've forgotten -- you are one!

Happy Birthday Eve! I'm Still Here. I'm Not Done.

It's the eve of my birthday and the fanfare began as soon as we arrived at the Wuerch's entrance and continued for the rest of the night. I felt so embraced and loved. "70" must be a big deal! Check out the crown and sash: 70 and Fabulous! I'm owning it!

Tomorrow is the official day when after God handcrafted me in my mother’s womb, I made my debut into this world. That may sound self-gratifying, but honestly, I’m just following scripture that says “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind, and you shall love your neighbor as YOU LOVE YOURSELF.” I can’t love you if I don’t love me. I’m thanking God He’s blessed me with a full, blessed and fruitful life, but I think I need to come clean with you today and tell you some of my truths.

I’ve led you to believe that I am a “wonder woman” widow, but the truth is I can sometimes be a whiny, wimpy widow. I may have led you to believe that I’m a “Mary” just sitting at the feet of Jesus. The truth is I am often a “Martha” -- too busy for my own good, AND God’s good. I show you my best photos and the truth is I often use my “touch-up” app to help me look my best. This 70-year-old body still has all its 1948 body parts but some of them creak and ache!

That’s my BIG reveal. I feel better about sharing all that with you, because if there’s anything I want my friends and family to know, it’s that “I am a sinner, saved by God’s grace. I make mistakes way too often. I sometimes stumble and fall (literally and spiritually). I often speak up, when I should be silent and listen. I sometimes give advice without being asked. Sometimes I go overboard in my desires to please. I want to be appreciated and be told so. Sometimes I carry a big chip on my shoulder because someone hurt my feelings. And, many times, I wish I could get my “one-way ticket to heaven” sooner than later. But, I don’t let myself stay in any of those negative feelings for very long, because my one determined purpose is to please my Heavenly Father so much, so, I get up, clean up and tell my feelings to shut up and I have a go at it again because this I know with absolute certainty: app to help me look my best.

I am God's daughter and a lover of Jesus. My greatest love story is that of my Lord and me. I can stand up and keep going because He is my strength and He is stronger than my weakness. He is and always will be my constant. He is and always will be my loudest cheerleader. I was designed to speak, write and declare the good news of my Lord. I was designed to confront darkness head-on with a passionate fire of the Holy Spirit. I was designed to be a leader. I was designed to be authentic and real. I was designed to never give up until I'm taken up. I am determined to finish my race strong.

I take a huge amount of comfort from the Apostle Paul. He said, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-11.

And now, I want to pass along a birthday gift to you. I want to let you know, that you, too, will face some disappointments. You will get challenged and even knocked down. But, here’s the good news for you and me. We will not lose. We will win. We are not alone. We are not going to give up. We are going to keep marching on. Not because we are super human – but because all the power of heaven lives and rests inside of us. We’re still here….so we’re not done! Let’s keep marching, skipping, walking, or running on to our Finish Line where we’ll hear our Divine Cheerleader say to us “Well done, good and faithful servants!”

GIRL!!! You're Still Here -- So You're Not Done!!!

I’m flattering myself to call me “girl”, but, yes it’s my birthday. Yay! I made it another year. I’m still here, so I’m not done living this wonderful life God gave me.

This is the day the Lord made ME, and I’m so grateful He did. That may sound self-gratifying, but honestly, I’m just following scripture that says “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind, and you shall love your neighbor as YOU LOVE YOURSELF.” I can’t love you if I don’t love me.

This is my last year to enjoy the 60s. Next year it will be the big 7-0 -- holy moly!! Where did all those years go? Seriously, I’m thanking God that He’s blessed me with a full, blessed and fruitful life, but I think I need to come clean with you today and tell you some of my truths.

~ I tell you I am a “wonder woman” widow, but the truth is I can sometimes be a whiny, wimpy widow.
~ I may lead you to believe that I’m a “Mary” sitting at the feet of Jesus most of the time. The truth is I am often a “Martha” -- too busy for my own good, AND God’s good.
~ I show you my best photos and the truth is I often use my “touch-up” app to help me look my best. Thanks for all your comments “Donna, how do you keep looking younger and younger?” Now you know! LOL!
~ I know that I’m on assignment to speak truth, inspiration, and encouragement in my daily blogs and posts. But more times than not – I’m speaking those messages to ME, because I sure need to hear and heed those words, myself!!

That’s my BIG reveal. If there’s anything I want my friends and family to know, it’s that “I make mistakes way too often. I sometimes stumble and fall (literally and spiritually). I often speak up, when I should be silent and listen. I sometimes give advice without being asked. Sometimes I go overboard in my desires to please. I want to be appreciated and be told so. Sometimes I carry a big chip on my shoulder because someone hurt my feelings. And, many times, I wish I could get my “one way ticket to heaven” sooner than later.

But, I don’t let myself stay in any of those negative feelings for very long, because my one determined purpose is to please my Heavenly Father so, I get up, clean up and tell my feelings to shut up and I have a go at it again because this I know with absolute certainty:

I know I am God's daughter.
My greatest love story is that of my Lord and me. I am His and He is mine.
I can stand up and keep going because He is my strength and He is stronger than my weakness.
He is and always will be my constant.
He is and always will be my loudest cheerleader.
I was designed to speak, write and declare the good news of my Lord.
I was designed to confront darkness head on with a passionate fire of the Holy Spirit.
I was designed to be a leader.
I was designed to NEVER QUIT.
I am determined to finish my race strong.

I take a huge amount of comfort from the Apostle Paul. He said, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-11.

And now, I want to pass along my birthday gift to you. I want to let you know, that you, too, will face some disappointments. You will get challenged and even knocked down. But, here’s the good news for you and me. We will not lose. We will win. We are not alone. We are not going to give up. We are going to keep marching on -- not because we are super human – but because all the power of heaven lives and rests inside of us.

We’re still here….so we’re not done! Let’s keep marching, skipping, walking, or running on to the Finish Line where we’ll hear our Divine Cheerleader say to us “Well done, good and faithful servants!”

I love you all so much! Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me today! 🎂🎉🎊🎁🎀🎈