I’m a Miracle – so Happy Birthday to Me!

Today my soliloquy goes like this: "It's my birthday! It's my birthday and it's a MIRACLE! In spite of all the odds, I am still here!" On this my B-day, I’m dog-sitting my children’s 85-pound, Australian Shepherd, Buddy, and their 5-pound Yorkie, Emma, while the fam is hanging out and enjoying the cool temps and fishing opportunities in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains this week. I’m on doggie and plant-duty and having a little vacay of my own at their home here in Frisco Square.

I’m hanging out where there are so many sights-to-see on a morning, noon, afternoon and evening walk with these two canines! Yesterday, in the cool of the early morning, we made our way to Frisco Square's historical area. Arriving there, I noticed this little house on a post, full of books with a sign that read: Little Free Library “Take a Book – Share a Book”. I did, and I'm sharing with you! "Miracles" is the book I chose. I didn't take time to see if it merited a read, but the title, alone, reminded me that I am a “Miracle” – my mama was never to have been able to give birth again after my sister was born, 12 years earlier. First miracle -- I was conceived. Second miracle -- I was born with a heart murmur. But – here I am -- alive and well!

Today, I hold my head up high and announce – I've turned 72. Does that alarm me? Am I sad? Do I feel old? Do I have regrets? Nope, nope, nope and nope! I'm a strong, vibrant, happy, very alive woman, lover of God and people, and ready to embrace another year. Bring it on! Thank you, Pastor Craig Groeschel for giving me this quote: “I’m still here – so I’m not done!” I'm living my passion daily – my mission, my family, my friends, my blog, and hopefully, letting my little light shine! I know what to value in this life and I know what matters. What matters are the blessings of family and friends and the “blessing of the LORD that makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22) And, indeed I am very rich in joy, peace, love, hope, and with the prospect of living forever and ever with my Lord. Oh how blessed I am.

Thanks to my sweet kids for the "birthday eve" gifts of love! By the way, that “Miracles” book I found – I read the foreword later in the day. This is an excerpt – how befitting for this day! “If your Christian life is boring, this book offers a cure. Disciples live on the edge, asking, “How can I serve you today, Lord? Who can I touch for you?” And at the end of the day, they can pray, “Thanks for using me, Jesus.” They don’t think about the day’s sacrifices. They think about the sheer joy of being used by God to touch the lives of others – to meet their needs, love them and share the truth about Jesus through their actions and their words. When Jesus said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive,: he wasn’t kidding!” I'd say that sums up who I desire to be daily! Thanks, God, for the MIRACLE of life and the reminder that living for YOU is the best gift EVER!

Sweet Seventy! Happy Birthday to Me!

It's awkward to wish yourself a happy birthday, but I sincerely do. I've now celebrated 70 birthdays. Why are folks so ashamed of their age? I thank God everyday for yet another day, and today, for yet another birthday! 70 years on this earth -- perfectly planned to be here for this day and time to continue to fulfill my assignment by my Creator, Master Designer, and Planner.

All you youngsters out there who view 70 as old.....I was you. I remember when my aunt turned 50 and thought how old she was. I know that age is just a number and I will cherish every year that God gives me on this side of heaven -- and best of all, each year gets me one year closer to going home.

I’m so thankful for the love of my mom and dad that brought me into this world and the beautiful man I married that gave me these precious children and grandchildren that have gone way over the top in giving me a birthday to remember this weekend. They've taken "I love you so much" celebrations to a whole new level in my record books. Yesterday we started out at Baguette et Chocolat Artisan French Restaurant for breakfast, then it was to the "postcard" and "I love you so much" walls in downtown Austin. Then we headed to The Escape Game, a live 60-minute adventure where you and your team take on a challenge and you get one hour to uncover clues and complete your mission and escape. So. Much. Fun. Obviously, from these "family" photos, my sweet children know what I treasure most are my "family" photos. They were "on purpose" to make sure that happened and today, they've assured me there will be more! My hopes for Franklin BBQ were met yesterday afternoon, topped with a sweet "Christopher Robin Movie". We definitely packed a punch into this day!

How thankful I have been that God blessed me to live in these days and times on Planet Earth. One of these photos below that sweet Shawntel did for me shows how long I've been alive here on Planet Earth. At the time of this posting: 7 decades, 70 years, 840 months, 3,652 weeks, 25,569 days, 613,632 hours. That’s pretty sobering, especially in consideration of “What have I done with all those years, months, weeks, days and hours?"

Based on my dear husband’s affirmations, I’m pretty sure I was a good, faithful and loving wife and based on my children’s precious actions and comments over the last few days of celebrations, I think that I passed the test of being a good mom and grandmother. And, from so many wonderful friends’ cards, comments, and blessings, I’m overjoyed to know that I was able to grab some hands and hearts in some ways that touched their lives. I like to think that I’ve left some footprints in the sand that might cause others to want to follow them.

Now, I realize that I am into the 3rd Act of my play, and I think seriously about how I can make the most impact in every day I have left. If you follow me at all on my blogs and messages, you’ll know that I do my best to live in the moments and making the most of them, and sharing as much good news as I can in those moments. Could you and I sit down and have a pity party about all the up and downs, ins and outs, twists and turns of our lives? You better believe it. But, every day the past gets cloudier and cloudier because I’m refusing to go there. I’m forgetting those things behind.

Here are my goals for this grand new DECADE!. To refuse to be angry, worried, grumpy, cranky, cynical and the one that no one wants at their party. Who wants to hang around that old gal? To be sure to die living and not living to die. To praise more, celebrate more, forgive faster, forget past mistakes, encourage and cheer others on more, to reach out and touch more, to give warm hugs and high-5’s more, to learn more, to be more thankful each day God gives me. I want my family to go “Wow – she LIVED!” I’m making sure I’m living every moment. I’ll be finished when I am finished. To add a lot more into the dash (-) that’s between my birth date and exit-to-heaven date. I’m so thankful every day that led to this day, but each day added to that number just gets me closer to that exit-to-heaven date…..when I’ll slide into heaven with my arms up in the air, yelling “What a Ride!”

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! 🎂🎉🎊🎁🎀🎈

Happy Birthday to ME!

My good friend, Debbie Moutsos, inspired me to wish myself a Happy Birthday. Next month, she’s giving herself a 65th birthday party. I love that! Debbie isn’t waiting on a celebration. She IS a celebration and she’s just looking for a place to land. That’s the way I want to celebrate my birthday, too! I AM a celebration because, on this day, I'm celebrating God’s goodness in selecting my Mom and Dad to give me life. They didn’t plan me. But, God did. Mom had determined my 12-years older sister would be her last, but “God’s ways are so much higher than our ways”.

I checked on a date calculator app to see how long in days I’ve been here on Planet Earth. At the time of this posting, it’s 24,837 days. 2 hours 50 minutes. That’s a pretty sobering exercise, especially in the consideration of “What have I done with those days?” I like to think that I’ve done a pretty good job as a wife, mother and grandmother and I’ve been able to grab the hands of dear friends and helped them in some ways. I like to think that I’ve left some footprints in the sand that might cause others to follow them. That’s who I’ve been so far.

I realize that I am in Act III of my play, and I seriously think about how I can make the most impact in every day I have left. If you follow me at all on my blogs and messages, you’ll know that I do my best to live in the moments, making most of the moments and sharing as much good news as I can in those moments. I’ve read in God’s Word how He will make me flourish in old age. I’m counting on that – not that I consider this ripe number of 68 as old age because I still feel like I am in the prime of my life. My son called me yesterday and asked how I was doing and my reply was “I am so thankful to be so healthy, strong and still ALIVE!” He told me he was glad I was, too.

Here’s the deal. As I am moving closer and closer to the end of my play, I’ve determined to NOT be burdened with anger, worry and being cynical. Who wants to hang around that old gal? I want to stay free-spirited. I want to have a spring in my step, full of vitality and life. I don’t want to give up, throw in the towel, complain about all that and this. I don’t want to be grumpy and cranky and the one that no one wants at their party. I want to be the one they celebrate. I don’t want to be a boring old person. I want to be sure to die living and not living to die. I want my family to go “Wow – she LIVED!” I’m not dying until I’m dead. I’m making sure I’m living every moment. Just like Jesus said on his last breath “It is finished!”, that’s when I’ll be done – not one second before then. I’ll be finished when I am finished. I’ve had an awesome life. Could you and I sit down and have a pity party about all the up and downs, in and outs, twists and turns of our lives? You better believe it. But, every day the past gets cloudier and cloudier because I’m refusing to go there. I’m forgetting those things behind.

So, here’s my goal for this grand new year. To praise more and worry less; to celebrate more and complain less; to forgive faster, to forget past mistakes, to encourage and cheer others on more, to reach out and touch more, to give warm hugs and high-5’s more, to learn more, to give more, to be more thankful each day God gives me. To add a lot more into the dash (-) that’s between my birthdate and exit-to-heaven date. By the way, I’m so thankful for those 24,837 days in the past….but each day added to that number just gets me closer to that exit-to-heaven date…..when I’ll slide into heaven with my arms up in the air, yelling “What a Ride!”

Happy Birthday to Me -- the Train Wreck Baby

I was a "train wreck baby". At least, that's what my Mama called me. She and my Dad were DONE with having any more babies. My older sister was 12, the other two were 18 & 20. But when my Mama was in the train wreck, her "birthing department" kicked into gear again. It's different, today, as many women wait until their 40s to give birth, but my Mom wasn't at all thrilled. She told me she cried for days at the news. As it turned out, I became her "gift from heaven", as in so many unexpected surprises in our lives -- that turn out to be the greatest blessings. I was her caregiver and always her "baby girl". Later she cried tears of thanksgiving.

I celebrate my sweet Mom and Dad on this, my "birth" day. Their precious love brought me into the world and I am forever grateful for that train wreck!

It's awkward to wish yourself a happy birthday, but I sincerely do. I've now celebrated 66 birthdays. Why are folks so ashamed of their age? I thank God everyday for yet another day, and today, for yet another birthday! 66 years on this earth -- perfectly planned to be here for this day and time to fulfill my assignment by my Creator, Master Designer and Planner.

All you youngsters out there who view 66 as old.....I was you. I remember when my aunt turned 50 and thought how old she was. I know that age is just a number and I will cherish every year that God gives me on this side of heaven -- and best of all, each year gets me one year closer to going home.

To all my family and friends.....thank you for humoring me, tolerating me at times, but most of all....for loving me. I know I'm not an isolated incident. I am an on-purpose, perfectly planned piece of artwork that God made with the best of intentions. I am HERE for a reason, and I WILL leave an imprint.....just mark my words!