I posted this video on Facebook tonight. For about the 50th time. I love it. I've watched it probably a hundred times over the past few years. And I cry every time. She's so dead-on with her words. While I may not completely "fit" every scenario she talks about, it moves me none the less.
For all my amazing girlfriends who have walked with me through sicknesses, births, deaths, the loss of my 'other 2 kids', moves & other troubles galore.......this is for you.
Today I turned 35. The number really doesn't bother me. After all, I'm still younger than my husband & both of my sisters. ha ha! Seriously, the number isn't a big deal to me. It's just a number. I've always thought I was one of those people that older people look at & say "she's such an old soul." I've always hung out with older people. I've always befriended those who are a few years older. I can only think of a couple boys I dated that were younger than me...and those were some really immature relationships...even for junior high! Seriously though, 35 doesn't bother me. I just kind of feel like I'm catching up to the age that all my friends are. I love who I am and where I am in life.
I am sooooooooooooo richly blessed. I have an amazing husband & 3 wonderful kids. I'm close to my parents & my sisters and I get the joy of being part of a sweet 2nd family (my in-laws). I have a home that fits our family, a cozy bed to sleep in every night, enough food to fill our bellies (and then some!), books to read, a computer to blog on every night. Compared with the majority of the world, I am hugely, gloriously wealthy. I am extremely blessed. And if you're my friend on Facebook, you saw that today I was showered with over TWO HUNDRED birthday wishes. I was stunned when I woke up at 6:30 this morning & already had 20 sweet "happy birthday" wall posts. By tonight I was shaking my head & thinking "wow!" every time I logged onto FB again. (and really, when you keep getting fun wall posts like that, you log back on a hundred times to see how many more people love you....what an ego boost!)
But you know what? I wonder if I've left a Godly legacy on all of those 200+ people. I mean, I try to live in a way that would please God. I try to practice what I preach, walk the walk, talk the talk. I really feel like my faith is a very essential part of who I am and I think it spills over into every piece of my life. But does it point to Him enough? Do all of those 200 people know how much I love Jesus? Do they know that when I hear worship music, I instinctively throw my hands up & close my eyes & focus on Him? Do they know how much I love worship? Do they know I dance & jump and twirl and cry when I worship in private at home? Do they know that I read my Bible every morning? Do they see my tears fall when I watch a baptism service?
Or do they see me on the days when I was busy & didn't get to my Bible reading time? Do they see me when I'm driving down the road & hesitate to raise my hands in the car because I'm afraid of what the person in the car beside me will think? Do they see me on the way to church Sunday morning when my kids are fussing in the backseat & I'm rolling my eyes & yelling at them? Do they have a clue that I know Jesus? Do they see me laugh at off color jokes? Do they hear not-so-nice talk come from my lips? What do they see in me? Is it HIM? Or is it all ME?
I hear this song all the time (mostly because I own the CD) and I love it. Tonight, as I reflect on a super day of birthday blessings, I am choosing to reflect on the words to this song as well...and I'm wondering about my legacy. Have you thought about yours?
In case you can't see the video, the lyrics go like this:
(Legacy by Nichole Nordeman)
I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me And I enjoy an accolade like the rest You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery Of all the who's whos and so-n-sos that used to be the best At such 'n' such ... it wouldn't matter much
I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl' But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides The temporary trappings of this world
Chorus: I want to leave a legacy How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough To make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically And leave that kind of legacy
I don't have to look too far or too long awhile To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy
Chorus
Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...
Chorus
Tonight I'm grateful for another birthday...which leads to another year to show Him off! Father, help me step out of the spotlight now & then & redirect the glow on Your Face!
Today I talked to a friend whose marriage was in trouble, but God has broken through and changed everything & healing is on the horizon.
Today I talked to a friend who is watching her parent slip away. She's planning a funeral and mourning.
Today I talked to a friend whose family stayed home from church to spend some family time together. Her 2 year old led them in worship this morning.
Today I stood alongside about 100 other believers in a worship service that was led by the Spirit of God.
Today I taught 20 four year olds about how God meets all our needs (Phil. 4:19). And tonight I'm reminded that He really does.
Tonight I'm grateful for those transparent friends....for the openness & honesty I feel with them...for the way our walls can come down & we can be real with each other....for the way we can be open to express the needs & desires of our hearts....for the way our hearts are meshed together by a love of Christ.
Thank you Father, for amazing Godly friends. May you meet all their needs tonight.
Today I am grateful for my bed. For many years, I told Larry that I'd like to have a sleigh bed. I've always thought they were pretty. And several years ago when a relative died, we inherited a beautiful dark cherry sleigh bed! I was so excited to move this pretty bed into my bedroom! I know it's a silly, material thing. But I love my bed!
Shortly after we got it, I took this picture. This is our current bedding set. Of course, this is how it often looks....covered in piles of folded laundry. It serves as both a bed & my laundry folding table. We like to have multi-function furniture. ha ha! But most often, it's where I go to read a book, take a nap, snuggle my sweetie or just hang out & talk to one of my family members. I love my bed!
I'm sorry that I've missed the last few days. I've had killer headaches every night this week. I don't know why, though. I haven't been sick or had any particular reason to be stressed. Every night this week, I've taken a handful of pain medication & collapsed into bed begging the headache to GO! I hate feeling like that. It's agonizing!
And so, because it's already after midnight, I'm going to make this short & sweet. Tonight, I am grateful that I was able to go to the football game & enjoy it...without a headache!
Today I am thankful for my job. I'm so lucky that I've had nothing but great jobs for many, many years now. Let me back up a little.
In the early 90s, I got my first "official" job. You know, the first one that was not a babysitting job or one where I worked for family & friends and was paid in cash. I worked for Mazzio's Pizza. (this one isn't the same one I worked for, but it looks a lot like it!)
I was only there for a few months when I met Larry.
He moved to town to go to college. He had been working for Mazzio's in his hometown so he transferred to 'my' Mazzio's. Oh yes....it was love by the pizza oven. When we got married 2 years later, I transferred to the Mazzio's near our new home. I only worked there for 4 months because we moved again.
At that point, I quit college to work a few semesters & save up some money. I went to work for Albertson's grocery company. I started off as a Cashier but quickly moved into the office where I became one of the store's bookkeepers.
In December of 1995, I found out I was pregnant with our first baby. I worked at Albertsons until about 2 weeks before my due date. When I quit working, I had already made up my mind that I wouldn't be returning. I became a full time stay at home mom in August of 1996.
I stayed at home with my kiddos for almost 1 full decade before I went back to work part time as a Mother's Day Out teacher.
I worked at a local church day care & stayed there til the day care shut down a few years later. When they did, I moved to a private preschool.
In August, I was offered a new job in the local school district. And while I had no plans to leave preschool, the job offer was a good one I needed to consider & I took it! I don't think I will post any pictures or info about my new job, but suffice it to say, it's quite different working with teens vs. the little ones I'm used to working with these last 5 years!
To say I am blessed is an understatement. I have cooshy work hours. I am available to take my kids to school & there to pick them up. I am home with them during the hours they are home. And my past three jobs have worked this way. Seriously folks, I am blessed.
In a world where so many people are searching for jobs, where the economy is the way it is, where people are going without food and shelter because their company downsized, I can only point to the Lord above & give Him credit for my incredible luxury of having a job I like with benefits like these!
You might remember my post about visiting Bethany in Missouri back in August 2008. If not, you can read about that here. A quick background to my friendship with Bethers. We met online in the late 90s when we were both trying to conceive our 2nd children. We met through a Christian moms group and just clicked. When that group split up, we didn't. We talk daily via email or text messages. We talk on the phone weekly or more. Truly, it's like she & I have a DNA link or something. We always laugh about the strange commonalities we discover from time to time. Bethany is one of my very favorite people in the whole world. I love her to death. Even though we've only spent that 1 weekend face to face, distance doesn't take away from our friendship. When I think of best friends, she's at the top of my list. We may not have a lifetime of memories together, but we know each other's heart & souls and that's all that matters now. Bethany ALWAYS makes me laugh & can read my mind & finish my sentences usually. We make fun of each other's spelling & grammatical mistakes on Facebook (because we're both spelling & grammar nerds) and listen to each other's PMS stories. We laugh at the same jokes and care about the same issues. Although our lives are different & our homes are 1200 miles apart, it feels like we've always known each other.
I love my sweet girlfriend. Now if I can only figure out a way to get her to move to Texas. Hmm....
I am married to the most awesome man alive. I have 3 fabulous kids that make me proud to be their mom every day. I am an unashamed follower of Jesus. Without Him in my life, I wouldn't be who I am. I love to write, so this is my world.
