Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Birthday Happiness

 Happy birthday to me!  This is my 54th birthday.  Hooray!
 It's still dark outside and I am smiling as I consider how fine each day is.  Each day is a gift and provides an opportunity to see and know the secrets He reveals.  
 No price tag can be attached to real love.  I'm so thankful that all my life, I've been bathed in His grace.
 The way He made me is simple and simply unique.  I thank Him.
 Where He has me now is good.  At school, when it is time for the Pledge of Allegiance, I say to the students, "Stand up, Americans!"  They think that is a funny thing to say, but I say it because I have a lovely land to live in and I'm grateful. 
 I am very aware of the passage of time.  The flower does fade and eternity is a sweet truth.  My hope for myself is awareness.  I want to slow down the chatter in my mind and be fully present.  This is a challenge.
I take great comfort in knowing that I am in the flock of sheep that follows the Shepherd.  I am bumping up against those next to me, taking my steps slowly, and trusting in my Leader.  It's not a mindset I speak of; it is a captured heart.  
This earthy life is a mere blip.  That's why we struggle so as we try to create a life for ourselves.  We decorate our walk here and we critique our doings.  When we are finished with this life, I feel sure we will not care about all the     fussy stuff we obsessed about before.  We shall join the One who knows all and is ALL.  Hooray!
I have to proctor reading tests today, but for two of my class meetings, we'll eat cupcakes together.  FUN!
So, I invite YOU to my birthday party.  Let's have it somewhere outdoors.  Let's breathe in the fresh free air, hold hands and let gratefulness fill our hearts.  We can bow our heads together in a wordless prayer.  After that, I shall serve you a pink cupcake with sprinkles and a gumdrop on top.  CHEERS!
I hope you have an apple-eating, feet-skipping, hug-around-your-dear-shoulders kind of day!

31 comments:

ann said...

Happy Birthday, Pom Pom. Just reading the joy in your voice has give my day a good start.

Nancy McCarroll said...

Happy Birthday and I shall think of you especially today and ask God's blessings on your comings and your goings.

Nancy

A garden just outside Venice said...

Yay!!! Happy Birthday to you!
Thank you for my cupcake! :)
xxx

Sue McPeak said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SPECIAL FRIEND!!!

Your Birthday Card is on CollectInTexas Gal....Yes, Right Now. GoThere!!!

Cheers and Gumdrops!
Sue

Anonymous said...

Dearest Pom pom,HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Big hugs across to you and wishing You a most wonderful birthday and fabulous year ahead.Love and special blessings, JulieXxxx

TexWisGirl said...

happy birthday dearie! your gratitude is a gift to the rest of us. :)

Angela said...

Birthday Blessings to you, dearest PomPom - it is a joy to name you as a friend, and my Christian Sister - and I pray your day will be as special as you are.
Tonight we are starting another series of Alpha Discipleship classes. We begin with a meal- I shall think of you especially as I enjoy my slice of Apple Pie xx

Lynn said...

Happy Birthday Gorgeous!
I put a little pressie in the post a few days back - hope you get it soon :)
Thanks for the cupcake - I love sprinkles - we call them hundreds and thousands here - I prefer sprinkles!
L.x.

Farm Girl said...

Happy, Happy day!!! I hope this is just a lovely birthday for you.
Those are really nice thoughts. I went to the grocery store, I found a red pear and a honey crisp apple.
As I looked at each one I said a prayer for you. You have been in my thoughts. Have a lovely day

Elderberry-Rob said...

Many happy returns PomPom - I just ate two chocolate mini muffins in honour of your birthday! Hope you have all your loved ones around you and a really good celebration. Blessings. Betty x

Happy@Home said...

Happy Birthday, dear Pom Pom!
Your thankful and cheerful outlook on life is contagious and so inspiring.
I celebrated my 54th in April and, like you, would like to be fully present for every moment.
Wishing you happiness and love today.
XO

GretchenJoanna said...

Happy Birthday, Dear POM! You are so young!

Leslie said...

Happy birthday!!!! I hope you are having a great day.

I love your calling your students Americans. I'm glad schools still say the pledge, too.

Vicki said...

Happy Birthday, dear friend!! I am glad you can share cupcakes at school. Enjoy your special day, and I wish you many more years!! Love and blessings sent to you~Vicki

Gumbo Lily said...

"a captured heart" -- I like that phrase because it's so true. Happy Birthday Dear Pom Pom. I love you!

Jody

M.K. said...

Thank you, dearest Pom! Thank you for the cupcake. I love sitting in soft, green grass. My very earliest memory is of sitting on a grassy hillside with my mother. I know this was a joyful birthday for you!! "Stand up, Americans!" I like that!!!

magsmcc said...

Happy Birthday, special, special, special, wonderful bloggie friend! If September was apple month, will October be pumpkins??? I'll heat some pumpkin muffins and we can sit on my porch and swing. Oh how I'd love to be in America for October!

libbyquilter said...

happy birthday Pom Pom~!!~
so pleased that it's gotten off to a beautiful start and i'm sending you a birthday thought that you will have this same sort of start on every single day of your 54th year.

:-D
libbyQ

p.s. thank you for the cupcake. i LOVE sprinkles~!

quilterliz said...

G'day Pom Pom. A very Happy Birthday to you. I hope it is a fabulous one. The Willows are having a great time here in Oz with me.Of course they are picking up a bit of our Aussie slang, but I am sure it won't do them any harm !!! Take care. Liz...

Ann said...

Collectin Texas Gal introduced us, what a beautiful blog you have. Your post touched my heart today, such a relevant message for living up to the fullest. Happy, happy birthday.
Ann

debbie bailey said...

I wished you Happy Birthday on Instagram and I'll wish it again here: Have a wonderful day, Miss Pom Pom!

Anonymous said...

I'm too late! But I want to wish you a belated happy birthday anyway, dear friend! Your words touched my heart today, and I wish I could sit with you and drink tea and listen to your wisdom. Much love, xxxxx

Catherine said...

Hello dear Karen..Happy, happy birthday!! I always say that's it's not just the day... it's your birthday "week"..because sometimes there are late very best wishes & hugs. A party outdoors sounds awfully like a picnic to me! A more mindful, deliberate pace is a most excellent plan...especially if you heard all the rowdy carry on in my head! How lovely for you to welcome little Elizabeth...her birthday must very close to yours : )
Much love my precious friend Katie x0x0x0x

Pom Pom said...

Thank you for the kind and loving birthday wishes, friends! I had a great day!
Darn. Now I have to wait 364 more days until my birthday!

Susan B said...

Dear Pom Pom, I am a day late to the party, but I want to wish you a very, very Happy Birthday!! I hope you had a fabulously wonderful day!! Your post was beautiful, so full of love and joy of life. It really blessed me. I wish all your days will be filled with that kind of joy. Have a very blessed year, my friend!! xoxo

Attic Clutter said...

oh such a sweet post POM (:)

Fat Dormouse said...

I'm SO sorry I missed your birthday post, Pompom. I have been obsessing about my own problems and not thinking of others. I hope you had a fabulous day - you always seem to be so cheerful and full of love. God bless you, my Dearest.

Left-Handed Housewife said...

Happy birthday, Pom, four days late! Oh, this was such a wonderful post. I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you. We could have sat near a nice creek, under a tree whose leaves were already turning yellow and red and orange and brown, a few of them floating past us in the water. We would have had snacks and talked about our favorite poems. What is your favorite poem? Have you told us? Maybe a list of your top five (too hard to pick, I know!)?

I hope your birthday was wonderful/marvelous/spirited/blessed.

Much love, frances

Kit said...

A very Happy Birthday!!! Yay! You have such a wonderful attitude. :) Kit

Melanie said...

Happy Birthday Miss Pom Pom !!!
I hope your day is as happy and cheerful as you are. I will close my eyes and pretend I am eating cup cakes with you. I have just come back from a country break and found something 'virtual' for you to giggle at. It is especially for you and I will blog it sometime during the week when I get organised xo

Lisa Richards said...

Well, I'll be! You share my hubby's birthday! Thanks for the wonderful words of wisdom. I tend to look at this life, as you do, and think how funny it is what we find important and how we see this little life as if it's all there is. We "decorate" it as you say. I'm working on slowing down the chatter in my mind so I can hear the voice of the Most Important One. Ah, eternity with Him will be magnificentf! Happy belated birthday! (Or is it a belated Happy Birthday?) :)

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