Snow in September!

For my birthday...it was quite a day and quite a year to remember!

Brian and Anna made the traditional pineapple upside-down cake (my favorite!).

Anna, Micaiah, and I played in the snow! Okay, well, first we made the snow from a science kit. They were so curious about it all. It was especially fun and occupied them for most of the day.

Brian surprised me with...dark chocolate raisinets!!! One of my new found (hard to find) favorite cravings!!! It was so sweet! Then, he completely surprised me by taking me out on a dinner date to my favorite restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory. And of course, I enjoyed my favorite cheesecake, Godiva Chocolate.

This was, by far, my best birthday yet! We didn't stay out late though because it was a school night. Here's a picture my half eaten cheesecake with the birthday card that Brian gave me in the background.
Birthdays always remind me of all the special people that I have gotten to meet, know, and love in my life. There are so many!!!!! I'm especially thankful for my family and friends...and pray that each and every one of them know that they are loved!

I am 29 years young...and already I have had many experiences in life that have shown me how short and fragile this life is. When my mother's mental illness brought pain, confusion, fear, and death to our family. When I experienced the sadness of my parent's divorce. When I tried drinking as a way to forget the pain and as a social avenue. When a friend died. When my friends weren't there. All this happened before I was 21... And then on April 8, 2001, I could finally declare that was my old life. From that day on until now, I (try) to rejoice every morning knowing that I have another day to live my life with purpose, with passion, and with sincerity. I am a new person in Jesus Christ, and I live my life differently now. Through hardship, death, and frustration, my choice to fear the Lord my God above it all has brought peace, joy, and redemption in ways that I could have never made happen on my own. Not only have I been changed, but I have changed and affected others' lives. I share this in earnest that each of us may consider the direction and path our life choices are taking us in. It is never too late, until the last breath, to make a choice to make a change. May we be willing to change. May we become aware of the things that we cannot change. May our hearts be open to experience and embrace the greatest love in the whole world. Jesus Christ is as real as the air that fills your lungs and gives you breath. And may we consider how we use each breath to live before the living God, our great Creator and Redeemer.

"What then shall we say to these things? If GOD is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39)