Today, I am thankful for life. For the beauty and the pain that pierce our hearts. For the light in the midst of darkness. For trustworthy friends and family who love the Lord. For the ability to choose how we respond to everything. I am thankful that God is good, and that good wins in the end. And I am thankful for God's faithfulness through every season!
I don't generally get sad about my birthdays (27 being an exception, for several reasons), but I do tend to get reflective. This February is so packed with highs and lows -- in addition to the usual daily routine and the crazy things I see and hear in court, there is my 33rd birthday and my grandparents' anniversary tomorrow, Valentine's Day fun and Super Bowl Sunday, celebrating Rachael and Jaceman's birthdays, the anniversary of Anthony's birth, the birth of Wesson and Nash, and a relaxing Big Cedar trip planned for next week (yes, please). This month is also the anniversary of Daniel's death and Grandad Doc's death. My friend, Elizabeth, just lost a beloved relative to cancer (a husband and father with several young children), and a high school friend's mother recently died. There was a long-anticipated, joyful pregnancy announcement for Ty and Ashley, then in the same week another friend shared heartbreaking news of a miscarriage...
As an INFJ personality, I am highly sensitive to the emotions, feelings, and struggles of others, often mirroring and feeling their pain deeply in my own heart. When one person in my family or close friend group gets bad news, I am keenly aware of their pain and emotional struggle, but also of the wide ripple effect that their news has on the lives and emotions of the key people in their life -- it happens quickly and subconsciously, but I feel every angle of the situation, and it can be an overwhelming amount of pressure and emotion. I am getting a bit better at separating things out and praying for others while choosing joy and peace and avoiding a depression spiral, but it's something I have to really work on. (We all have different strengths and challenges, and that whole empathy command to"Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep" is my strong suit. Mostly, I'm glad for that and see it as a gift.)
Anyway, I know this blog has flipped back and forth with lightheartedness and heavier topics this month, so hopefully that helps explain why. With my birthday rapidly approaching (and with all that I mentioned above swirling through my mind), I would sum it all up with these two thoughts: Life can be excruciatingly painful, but it is a wonderful gift from God that is always worth fighting for! My "choose life" motto for 2017 is growing stronger in my heart, and I am grateful for that. There are some big future decisions I've been sifting through, and I'm feeling renewed hope about the potential and possibilities that lie ahead for me. For today, I am going with peace... feeling thankful that God allows the seasons of laughter and joy and fun, and that He is by our side working out His purposes even in our deepest pain!
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Shifting right on into the happy fun stuff, here are a few pics from our Women's Lifegroup Galentine's Brunch party on Monday!! Laura, Jenna, Kirsten, and I were the prize winners - go, us! Mine was for guessing closest to the right # of conversation hearts, and Laura's was for getting the highest # of them onto a plate using only the straw to pick them up and move them (see pic) -- that was harder than I expected. The bottom right pic of Princess Penny makes me happy!
Cute decorations, and Penny showing off her skills from her obedience class! =)
I sat across from Tiffany and Jenna, so naturally, I got several pics of them!
Elizabeth was kind enough to bring us all Valentine's! :) Kelly and Kirsten had the same shirt on, and we obviously took lots of fun pics with the photo booth props!
It was a fun night with the girls and a great way to start off my birth-week. lol
In other news, everyone should go see Lego Batman!! Full of awesome, sarcastic humor that had me and Tiffany laughing from start to finish. Hideaway + Lego Batman was our Valentine's Day game plan, and it was fantastic! #noregrets
"To making it count! ...Cheers!!" ;-)
Now I'm off to OKC. Happy Birthday Eve to me!
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