What A Beautiful Day!

I never dreamed that celebrating my 32nd birthday would be exciting. In fact, I didn't want to celebrate at all. After all, once you hit 30, it's just another day (that the Lord has blessed us with, mind you, but just like any other day). Not today, though. My day was wonderful.

It started out with a backlash of comments about my previous blog. Some people appreciated it. They had been in my shoes, they had felt what I felt. Many people felt it was too much. Rude. Unforgiving.

But that's okay. I want people to talk. I want people to know that if I can be forgiven for what I did to others in high school, and in college, anyone can be forgiven. Yep. Anyone.

And we can all learn to love one another. Include one another. Take care of one another.

Anyway - after the dust settled, I woke up to 32. Halfway to 64. One third the way to 96. Fun, right?

Sean took Maris to Nana's house, just so that she could be watched a little more carefully after that awful virus. And he came back home to surprise me while I got ready for work. He gave me a beautifully wrapped box, and I immediately knew where it came from. That wrap job is always the best! I opened up a gorgeous necklace with a citrine heart pendant - Maris' birthstone. I already have a blue topaz ring, Miles' birthstone, and now I have a necklace with Maris' birthstone. One girl wrapped around my finger, the other wrapped around my neck. It's absolutely stunning and the fact that he picked it out himself makes it that much more meaningful.

My little family.

At work, we celebrated with lemon cupcakes and cream cheese frosting. Absolutely delicious.

I picked Miles up from her GiGi and Pops' house, and she had framed for me the most beautiful art pieces, paintings by Miles, of course! I can't wait to hang them in my dining room. They are phenomenal. She is a prodigy, that child.

And she also had her first manners class, dressed in a pink and white gingham dress, with the essential monogram. She shook her teachers hand, told her it was nice to meet her, and off we went to dinner with Sean's mom.

The most wonderful birthday I've ever had.

I am so in love with this family. The family who had made me whole again - even when I am broken. This God who has blessed me with the love that fills the gaps.

I have been so weary, and He has given me rest.

There's no other word to describe it, but Grace. And his grace is sufficient - and abundant.

Just wanted to remember this day forever.

Humbly His,
L.