A Toast to my Reader ... with Love!

I sit in my backyard, a steaming cup of tea in hand. The world is splashed in a myriad hues ... lantana flowers cascade down in a purple stream - a feast for my eyes! Emerald green leaves rustle and make music while spring breezes dance in abandon. Petite white blooms and small pink geraniums join hands to shout praises to their Creator. Striped orange petals smile and sing the glad tidings that 'He lives!' Little birds swoop down to the grass and up again, fluttering their wings in excitement, chirping loudly in shrill, dulcet tones. Golden sunlight warms my shoulders while blue skies beckon. I look around me, and my heart is filled. What a beautiful world!

It's the first time since I began my blogging journey that my birthday and blogging day coincide. Today Monday, is the first day of the week, the first day of the month, the first day of my new year. It's the right day then to pause, to reflect on life and all its brought me. A reminder to savour each moment, to slow down and enjoy my journey. It's time to thank God as I look back on His faithful enduring love through all of my life. It is also time to appreciate the fabulous people in my world. 

This year I sang a well-known song to my beloved, well before my special day:

"Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64'?

When my gorgeous Mama turned 42, I wrote her a birthday poem.

"She's a little old. So I'm told. Her age is 42. And that is very true."

Ouch! What does that make me ... now I have reached 22 years beyond 42? The mind boggles!

Oh well! It's all sorted, because I've decided never to grow old! Problem solved! 

What am I thankful for today? I'm so grateful... for my beloved, hardworking well-providing, gentle, wise, clever, generous, handsome, winsome husband ... who's journeyed through life with me, during good times and bad - 41 years as friends, 37 years as best friends and over 35 years as man and wife. I'm grateful too for our unique and precious son, Asela, whose presence has added much to our lives and continues to enrich us. I appreciate my loving, extended family, especially my amazing parents, (now in a better place) who's been a rich tapestry of support all through my life. Thank you God! And thank you dearest family!

When I was sixteen, I met Jesus and that changed everything. LIFE. Adventure. Joy. Meaning. Hope. Purpose. Relationship. All of that and more. It has been a rollercoaster ride of thrills and spills, joys and challenges amidst the wonder of doing life with Jesus. How amazing that the Creator and Sustainer of the universe chooses to do life with you and me! I must confess that almost 50 years later, I am still very much a work in progress, but I hope and pray I'm making good progress towards becoming the woman God created me to be. 

My life goals are:

1. To love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength

2. To love others well

So what have I been learning these 64 years? That ...

• God loves me with His wonderful, eternal, inexhaustible, complete, unconditional love.
• God is good. All the time. I might not always understand His ways, but I can trust Him.
• Life is hard, (too hard sometimes), but life is also beautiful.
• Learning to love well is a lifetime journey.
• Kindness is everything. Be kind. Always.
• Forgiving others freely is the only way to live.
• Being there for others is important. Be there. Often.

• This moment is all I have, so focus my full attention to it.
• Life is short. Appreciate life today. Live well today. Love well today.
• I'm weak and powerless but it's in my weakness that I find God's strength.
• We are all equal, every one of us - all sinners saved by grace, in a broken, hurting world.
• I'm human but praise God, His forgiveness, grace & strength are mine ... every single day.
• Do what I can, when I can, but relinquish what I can't control into God's capable Hands.
• Being is more important than doing. Become the kind of person who naturally does good.
• Be content whatever the circumstances, because My God is all I need, He is the All-Sufficient One!

Today I want to thank YOU, dear Reader ... for being in my life.

Thank you for the times you have encouraged me. Thank you for the times you have blessed me.

I'd like to say with a heart full of gratitude ..."I love you God" ... "I love you friend!"

May every good thing abound in your life today and always.

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." 3 John 1:2 (NIV)

"The Lord is my Best Friend and Shepherd. I always have more than enough.

He offers me a resting place for me in His lavish love." Psalm 23:1 (TPT)