Official 27th Birthday Post

Today I am 27. That just seems weird. I feel like I just had my 17th birthday. Ten years ago today I was in Prince Edward Island with my family and Katelyn on our senior trip after graduating in May. That night we went to the Anne of Green Gables musical. It was wonderful and the whole trip was fantastic. I need to see if I can rustle up some pictures of that trip to post. That was one place I've been that was absolutely everything I thought it would be. It looked exactly like the movie with the same atmosphere. One of the best trips ever.

I cannot look back on my life without being amazed by the grace of God. Humbled that He would choose me to be His daughter, give me the opportunity to know Him from the beginning of my life, provide me with an environment to grow up in where everything constantly pointed to Him. I am overwhelmed with how little I would be without Him and what sin I am capable of without His power and Spirit in my life. I know that the only way to express my gratitude is by living my life in a way that shows what is important to me. If it is really my Lord then my life will shout that in my actions, attitudes, and words. That is my desire and I pray for the ability to live out His love every day to those around me.

Here are 27 great things about my life this year. Some of them are the same as last year - they are still favorites! This goes from the important to the insignificant and random things that just make life better.

1. Being in a different place than ever before in my relationship with the Holy Spirit and in hearing His voice speaking to me daily
   
2. Being even more aware of my desperate, daily need for God's grace
3. Being more confident to reach out to others even when they haven't asked
4. Having thicker skin and being much less bothered by what other people think or say about me
5. And yet it still meaning the world when others have something helpful or encouraging to share with me
6. My husband - just when I think I couldn't be more in love with him, I find that I am. With each child and life change I see a new side of him that I can fall in love with, keeping things new and fresh
7. My precious son - he is becoming more and more a companion as he matures. He fills my life with fun and laughter. I am excited as I look forward to teaching him and us growing together as I do my best to prepare him to work for God's Kingdom
8. My baby girl - full of snuggles and unconditional, baby love. She is pure sunshine every day.
9. Family - having our families close by and involved in our lives
10. Friends - unbelievable women (and men) who model Christ to me
11. Meeting weekly with a small group of believers in our home and being uplifted, challenged, and encouraged as we study and grow together
12. Still having three grandparents here with us that I can see and talk to
    
13. Keeping our home full of people and activity as we try to use it to serve God
14. Being busy but not crazy
15. Laughing daily
16. Big hugs
17. Baby, slobbery kisses
18. Doing more cooking and enjoying it together as a family
19. Having a new sister-in-law to make our family even fuller and better
20. Looking forward to two fun, family trips in the coming months
21. Fruit - can't get enough of it lately
22. Looking forward to meeting lots of friends' new babies this year and watching them grow
23. Sunshine - it seems more special lately when it's missing so often
24. Having my husband walk through the door each evening
25. Putting my babies to bed each night
26. That my kids don't get up before 8:00
27. LIFE! It's so good.