Friday, June 24, 2011

Hey! It's My Birthday!

I'm 42 today. I kind of skipped my birthday last year, but that is NOT happening again. My pastor did this cool thing on his birthday where he wrote a corresponding number of things he is thankful vis a vis how old he is. I'm gonna do that, too. Some are huge, some are small, some are serious, some are silly. And they certainly aren't in any order, and I also know I've got way more than 42 things for which to be thankful. Anyway, here goes.

1. Right now in my quiet time, I'm reading Warren Wiersbe's Jesus in the Present Tense. I'm thankful that Jesus is everything to me, and He never changes.

2. Darren. He's an awesome husband and father. He never says that he wanted a son. He patiently reads Nancy Drew books to the girls at bedtime. The only thing he doesn't do is fix hair.

3. My firstborn, Lucy--who, multiple times a day, throws her arms around me and says, "I love you, Mom!"

4. My spunky monkey baby, Elaine--who gives me bear hugs and cat kisses. She's kind of like a friendly dragon who just wants to say hi but ends up catching your braids on fire.

5. PG Tips tea.

6. My dishwasher.

7. Sunglasses.

8. My job--I get to talk to a captive audience about books and writing. It doesn't get better.

9. PBS--home of Masterpiece Theatre.

10. Peacocks--the most beautiful bird in the world and robins--the most cheerful bird in the world. Really, I'm thankful for birds in general. Except crows.

11. Vintage shops and courtyard gardens.

12. My two cats--Yo-Yo and Tuppence. Love those pets.

13. Lipstick.

14. Lizbet Denisse--our lovely Compassion International 17-year-old in Ecuador.

15. Mary--our beautiful Compassion 11-year-old in India.

16. Gleramil--our darling Compassion 9-year-old in the Philippines. These three girls are our extra daughters, and I love hearing my little girls pray for their "sisters" each day.

17. My crockpot.

18. My favorite stores, "the T's": TJ Maxx and Target.

19. Libraries.

20. The incredible array of Bible studies there are out there for me to do: Beth Moore. Kelly Minter. Kay Arthur. Priscilla Shirer. Anne Graham Lotz. God's Word is like a garden or like deep-sea diving (not that I've ever done that, but...)--the more you look, the more treasures you discover.

21. Flip-flops. The ultimate in footwear.

22. Ebay.

23. Cadbury caramel eggs.

24. So many good mystery novels.

25. The awesome school where my kids go.

26. The best friends in the whole world. I've still got friends I made in pre-school, grade school, high school, summer camp, college, grad school, and each job I've worked and church I've attended, and friends I keep making, including online. Plus, and here's the key thing: my friends are nice. Some people are all, "My friends are so honest! Iron sharpens iron, you know." Whatever. My friends all have the good sense to tell me what I want to hear. Can't beat that. (I'm being slightly tongue-in-cheek; I know, Proverbs and all that. Still. They're super nice.)

27. My bed.

28. Victoria magazine--a little piece of serenity that drops in my mailbox every other month.

29. Allrecipes.com.

30. My Swiffer and Lysol wipes.

31. Church. Currently we attend the Red Brick Church, and I am so thankful for it. But over the years I've attended any number of churches I've loved and that have served as bricks in my character. Wheaton Bible Church. College Church of Wheaton. Chicago Fellowship of Friends. Calvary Memorial Church of Oak Park.

32. Cool Whip.

33. Door County, WI.

34. As Our Own. Right now as my wallpaper, I have a picture from As Our Own of a group of little girls, coloring. It makes me smile every time I see it--that these tiny little ones were rescued from prostitution and are now coloring out of Hello Kitty coloring books, just as little girls should.

35. Lilacs.

36. Monical's pizza, even though you have to go downstate to get it.

37. My extended family--dad, brother, sister-in-law; a great in-law family; and cousins who are like extra siblings.

38. Netflix.

39. The Art Institute of Chicago. My happy place.

40. Keats' House. My other happy place (not that I'm there often, but still).

41. K-Love radio. We took the 30-day challenge in January and have been listening ever since. It has made a noticeable difference in our family.

42. I'm at 42 already?! I could keep going. I am thankful for this truth I discovered in my 42nd year--that when I am going through trials, Jesus prays for me. Blows my mind. Jesus Himself prays for me. I can't get over it.

So, happy birthday to me, I guess! If you are in my neighborhood, stop by and have a piece of cake. Otherwise, I will eat it all myself. Also, here is the song that is really speaking to me right now, on my birthday and this year:

9 comments:

Katie said...

#32 - HA!

Chris said...

Happy Birthday! We are thankful for you. It's wonderful to have friends who enjoy reading. What's that last line from Charlotte's Web?

"It is not often that someone comes along who is both a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."

Alice said...

Katie--Girl, you know I put that one in just for you!

Chris--Thank you; that's one of my favorite quotes! And whenever I see a spider web, I double-check just in case in might say "Some Pig."

Melanie said...

Happy Birthday, Alice! I'm having a cup of tea and a chocolate cupcake in celebration of you today! I am thankful for many of the same things you list here but also I'm am eternally grateful for your friendship and all the things knowing you has brought to my life. Love you, lady!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday,Alice!
Today I am thankful for good memories from our Wms.Bay-Wheaton days, a deeper relationship/friendship, learning lots of little, and not-so- little,classy things from you and your mother[my sweet Aunt Lois, who I love and miss!], God using our times together [via email,letters, and in person], along with other influences, to draw my heart closer to Him and long For Him, that our families also enjoy times together, for all the interesting, thought-provoking, funny, down-to-earth things you write,...and many more things, too many to record right here, right now. Have a happy day! Lots of Love! CT

>Cade! said...

What? 42 year old naps didn't make the list? Sigh. They will soon, I'm confident :) Happy Birthday, my friend.

Mae said...

Jack and I have been to Chesley Bible Camp for him to speak at a Senior's Camp. We just got home today and I didn't have internet there, so missed getting a birthday greeting to you on your birthday.

Happy Birthday, a day later. Love, Mae

Kelly said...

Happy Belated Birthday Alice. I don't always remember to read you but glad I caught this one. Really cool whip made the list?

Sandy Pryor said...

Now I know we must continue to keep in touch--you love PG Tips as well! :-)