Happy Birthday, BILL!

Yay! It's Bill's 54th birthday today. He didn't want a party, but you don't get to decide that for yourself in this family. The kids are coming over tonight and soon I need to get out the door to prepare for my most precious one's special evening.

I'm so thankful for my mother-in-law's baby. I'm sure she was filled with gratefulness 54 Thanksgivings ago when she spent her turkey day in the hospital.

When I first saw Bill, he was leading songs at college Young Life. I loved the looks of him and I was drawn to his bouncy personality. After a few dropped hints and begged for "chance" encounters, thanks to my sister and her husband, we finally met and it really was love at first sight and now 31 years later, it is love at every day sight! I am so thankful for a husband who sits with me every morning and asks me questions, fills my coffee cup, prays with me and believes in me. He cares ACTIVELY for so many people. He's the friend you long for and a voice that soothes your heart. He's hard-working, SUPER sensitive, a passionate lover, a loud laugh-er. He gets terribly homesick when he's away and he prays and prays for friends all over the world when he's here in Denver. I am so crazy about him and I love growing older with him. So, happy, happy, happy, Honey! This is YOUR day!

Susan Branch draws such lovely little things and I'm wondering if you are feeling the holiday lift in spirits like I am! Are you? I think it is time to pull out the red and green, so I am ready on Friday after the turkey is cooked and the meal tidied away. I'm ready for pine smells, candle fragrance, all the old Christmas stuff I was tired of last year when I put it all away, but now I want again.

. . . and not a creature was stirring. Well, don't ask me why but I Googled mouse and found this picture. I hated the "caged pet period" when we had them in all their smelly glory, but I like to LOOK at hamsters and mousies and isn't THIS photo amazing? Little creatures WERE Beatrix Potter's models!

That same day, I Googled cozy cabins and I wish I could invite you to mine, but I don't have one. Bill wouldn't want to come if there wasn't cable tv, but I do love the thought of cabins this time of year. One of my praying friends at school takes her big family to the YMCA of the Rockies at Christmas. They don't do the big present thing. They spend time at the funky roller skating rink, eat their meals in the cafeteria, and love each other in the mountains. Isn't that awesome? Margie is a smart, smart mama and I am learning a lot from her. She is one of the security staff at my school. I'm THANKFUL for her friendship.

This photo was taken by somebody IN CHINA. Look at the beauty of plenty here! Racks and racks and stacks and stacks of the honored vessel: THE TEAPOT! I'm wishing you many pretty pots of tea this holiday season! I know when I quiet myself to sit with my tea, I do some good thinking. I purpose to take tea a bit more in the next weeks.
So, dear blog friends and family friends and good hearted people who move in with interest to my roaming posts and scattered thinking . . . may you feel love today. May you look up to thank the CREATOR of the UNIVERSE. May you whisper some humble prayers. May you FEEL and KNOW that you are good.