Birthdays and Holidays

 

Today is my 46th birthday. 

Nathanael and I walked to Lionheart for coffee and breakfast. It's a cold, clear morning. On the way, he asked me if I feel any different about being 46. I really don't think so. 46 is still mid-40's, so I don't feel much different about being 46 than I did about being 45. Maybe I'll feel differently at 47 next year.

I took the day off work. It's nice that I can do that. Not everyone can. I'm grateful. I took a nap when we got home from our walk, even though I wasn't planning on it. But I could, so I did. 

As it is nearly every year, one of my practices for the year is to write more on my blog. I took the month of January off to work in my planner, so this is my first blog post of the year! It seemed like a good day for a first post of the year.

Nathanael is going to make dinner and dessert for me tonight. Usually, I get to choose where we get take out from. I'm excited for him to cook this meal I selected. I don't remember the name of it but it involves chicken and berries with a sauce and salad. He made it once a very long time ago, and I remember it was very good. 

I also know I'm getting a new coat for my birthday, and I'm excited to get that today! It's because I picked it out and we bought it when we were at the Columbia Employee store last week. It's been kinda fun to anticipate being able to wear that. 

The Holy Spirit Conference was last weekend at Bridgetown, and while we did not go, I did get to hear some really great worship songs on Sunday. There's one I'd never heard before that we sang on Sunday night. I was scheduled for Boiler Room prayer, so I was at the 5pm service. Jonathan David and Melissa Hesler and their band were leading worship. I really liked their first song, Raise a Hallelujah. But I really REALLY liked I Am Your Beloved. I keep coming back to this song this week and I've listened to it obsessively. I think it's resonating with me because I feel like many of the words are what Ezekiel needs to hear often in this season of his life. He feels like he's not enough. I listened to it with him and we talked about what the words mean. I hope that conversation stays with him. 

Ezekiel is about to get some extra support and a new "learning strategies" class at school, when the semester changes next week. I'm really hopeful and excited to see what happens. More than anything, I want him to feel a measure of success at school. I do think God is leading us down this path, and I'm looking forward to seeing what good things God has planned for him in this next season. 

I feel like, more than any previous year, I was able to do all the January things that I like to do. I like January because it's the time when I get a new planner and think about a new year and make plans and reflect on the year past. This January was our 3rd annual Family Summit! We went to Salishan Lodge at the coast this time.

We ended January with a Lunar New Year dinner last night. We sampled different kinds of dumplings and each had a fun drink from 99 Ranch Market, and Atticus insisted we all wear red. I put some money in little red envelopes for them. Free money is always fun. 

Everything Ends With Gratitude.

I'm grateful for my job at Home Instead. I'm grateful that I enjoy it and for the flexibility it provides. I like the people and the work. I know this is not how many people feel about their jobs.

 

“My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon.”

(Mizuta Masahide, 17th century Japanese poet and samurai)