Happy Birthday....to ME!

I'm 27 years old today. I've always considered 24, 25, and 26 to be the mid-20's age. I'm officially pushing 30 now!! I enjoy my life! I love my family, my in-laws, my home I share with Mike and Cayman, and the friends we have! There's very little I want and even less that I need. My life is very satisfactory! I'm sure there is many things I could come up with that I WANT. Focusing on what I have in life is the key to being content in every situation.

...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

I came across these steps from Lloyd-Jones' book On Spiritual Depression that gives some helpful steps to arrive at this blessed condition.

Know these things:
1. Conditions are always changing, therefore I must obviously not be dependent upon conditions.
2. What matters supremely and vitally is my soul and my relationship to God--that is the first thing.
3. God is concerned about me as my Father, and nothing happens to me apart from God. Even the very hairs of my head are all numbered. I must never forget that.
4. God's will and God's ways are a great mystery, but I know that whatever He wills or permits is of necessity for my good.
5. Every situation in life is the unfolding of some manifestation of God's love and goodness. Therefore my business is to look for this peculiar manifestation of God's goodness and kindness and to be prepared for surprises and blessings because 'His ways are not my ways, neither His thoughts my thoughts.'
6. I must regard circumstances and conditions, not in and of themselves therefore, but as a part of God's dealings with me in the work of perfecting my soul and bringing me to final perfection.
7. Whatever my conditions may be at this present moment they are only temporary, they are only passing, and they can never rob me of the joy and the glory that ultimately await me with Christ.

These fresh, renewing thoughts have been particularly meaningful and helpful to me in the rough times with Cayman's medical scares.

How did all these deep philosophical thoughts sneak into what is suppose to be my birthday blog?!

About my birthday...

Mike took me on a date last night for my birthday while Grandma Sue and Aunt Sam babysat. We ate at Abuelo's and then went Putt-Putt. If you don't count all the re-do's Mike let me have, then I won by 2 strokes! :o)

Here's a trip down memory lane. This is me with my Pac-Man cake at my 5 year birthday!I must have really liked Pac-Man. Check out the table covering too.