Happy Birthday to me! What a blessing!

Normally, birthdays are not so happy days because I'm another year older and I always feel like I'm not where I want to be each year.  BUT, this year is different.  I do feel old and I'm at least 20 pounds heavier than last year at this time, but I am sooooo blessed that God gave me another year.  I have so much joy inside today!  He has blessed me so much and allowed me to spend another year with my best friend and hubby.  He has given me more time to tell the Good News and to proclaim His Name.  I'm so thankful to my Father who loves me.


I got up at 5:30am today...took a bath to relax a little and already walked 20 minutes on the treadmill while doing arm weight exercises too!  It is 7am as I type this.  "I will lose this weight!" I keep telling myself.  :o)  I know....who exercises on their birthday?  lol!

I'm looking forward to this year.  Kevan and I are praying about a lot of things (building a new house, kids [maybe adoption], mission trip and a few other things) and I feel like I have a future this year.  Last year I was in a totally different place.  I appreciate so many more things now.  Yesterday, in the car, Kevan told me that I'm a different person than I was last year.  He meant it as a good thing.  I'm thankful that my cancer changed me me for the better.  It could've been so different.  But, cancer was my blessing.  I learned so much, spent so much extra time with my Lord while I was recuperating and it was such a special time.  I found out I had so many more friends that loved me than I ever knew I had.  I learned how to truly lean on God for comfort and my daily needs.  What an awesome year it was.

So many years ago my mom went into labor VERY early (I think it was 2 months early).  Her little girl was born and her little lungs weren't ready.  The doctors told my parents that I was not going to make it.  They transferred me to a different hospital and my undeveloped lungs collapsed on the way to the hospital.  They told my parents to start to prepare for a funeral, but just like this last year SO MANY prayed for that little baby and God saved her.  God healed my lungs and my little body and I'm so thankful for those that prayed then too.  God has been with me all along the way.

The above pictures are of me at my own baby shower.  I believe I was in the hospital for 2 months before I was released to go home.  So, I'm unsure how old I was in the pictures.

Happy Birthday to me!  :o)  Thank you Lord for another birthday!