Birth-and-Life-Day Celebration

When it comes to birthdays, I freely share my age and happily celebrate every year because for me, it's about celebrating the fact that I am alive and I have a birthday! God has been so good to me, and my birthday is just one special day that I can set aside to celebrate and appreciate the life that He has given me!

This year, I was sick with a cold on the actual day of my birth, and I wasn't able to celebrate with others also because it was the day before Ukrainian Christmas. I did have a nice relaxing day and was thankful for the kindness of many friends and family to remind me how much I am loved.

I spent the last week in the city of Kramatorsk, Ukraine, with a missionary friend, and we planned a little party to celebrate my birthday.

Step one: Preparing the decorations

I popped the only purple balloon in the package while blowing it up, but it was fine.

Step two: Setting the table...a "love"-ly theme

 

Nice candles and a pretty little rose decoration in the middle!

The birthday girl (and her talking hamster)!

 Step three: Just about ready to eat...

Kate (far right) is a friend I met last August who celebrated with us.

Me and Doreen, a dear friend who hosted me in her home for a week!

Delicious food - beet salad, rice and chicken casserole and pickled tomatoes!

My birthday cake was one of the best I've tasted in a long time!!

The chocolate candy in the bottom right corner was a gift from Kate - yummy!

Blowing out the candles on the cake...

Then, while drinking coffee and eating chocolate, we watched the first 2 hrs of ...

Anne of Green Gables - the Sequel!

Fellowship with friends, great food, and my favourite movie...

It was a special party - just enough to help me celebrate and remember how very blessed I am!

Dear God, Thank You...

Dear God,
Thank You for 2013.

Thank You for always being faithful to me, even when I was not, for forgiving me and helping me back up when I failed, and for blessing me in ways far beyond what I expected or even deserved.

Thank You for listening and understanding the needs of my heart, and for giving me friends who have been there to encourage and strengthen me when I needed it most. Thank You for using me even when I felt insignificant and weak and I didn't know what to do, and for giving me the ability to see the people and situations around me through Your eyes.

Thank You for being God, and for the assurance that You have everything in control. I am comforted to know that nothing happens in my life or in this world that You don't know, and that You are working out Your good plan, even though in my inadequate understanding it sometimes seems otherwise.

Thank You that my life is in your hands - and the lives of all those who are dear to me - and that I can trust You and have peace. Thank You for giving me faith to believe You and for giving me the ability to communicate that to others, both through my life and through the talent of writing You have given me.

Thank You for joy that cannot be explained.
Thank You for Your constant presence with me, and for keeping me strong. Thank You for the convenience of the internet, which makes it possible for me to keep in touch with those I love who are far away. And thank You for helping me not to feel lonely.

Thank You for giving me the intellect and memory to learn and be able to communicate in a new language - one that was completely foreign to me and is very difficult. I know that any progress I have made and will continue to make is only because of Your grace in my life.

Thank You for the confidence to face this new year - 2014 - and whatever changes it will bring, knowing that You have known it from the beginning of time and that everything is in Your hands.

Thank You for giving me opportunity to glorify and praise You, in my home, in my church, with my family and friends, in ministry, and in this country not of my physical birth, but where You have placed me to be an instrument of Your grace to the people around me.

How can I keep from singing Your praise? How could I ever say enough, how amazing is Your love? How can I keep from shouting Your name? I know I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart want to sing!

I love You and I commit my heart and life again to You as I begin this new year, confident that You will continue the good work You started in me, and that in both the good times and the bad You will always be walking right beside me.

Your willing servant and precious daughter,
Darlene Joy