Monday, December 27, 2010

39 years...

It’s the oddest thing but I really feel like this past year has been the best so far...and I’ve had some good ones. Never has there been a year more filled with ups and downs, but through each and every blow I have felt God’s presence. He was there in the valleys and He was there on the mountain tops.

Thinking back on my last birthday and I’m reminded of a post I found through someone (Meadowlark?) about “there’s always a day before”.

Last year was my day before an entire year full of days before. The day before the wee girlie got sick. The day before the VA re-evaluated Sean’s disability and reclassified him at a much higher rate. The day before both of our beloved pets passed away. The day before we chose to live, not merely survive. The day before we adopted a momma kitty and her kitten. The day before I decided to push my own limits. The day before I resigned from what was once a loved job position. The day before our first born stepped on the school bus headed for kindergarten. The day before his teacher confirmed what we already knew--our child is brilliant...above and beyond his classmates. The day before a rambunctious Bella dog came into our lives. The day before our lawyer was disbarred and Sean’s defamation suit was declared null and void...and the playground bullies got to win another round. The day before a sharp eye in accounting discovered a overtime pay glitch and we received a fairly decent sized backpay check--just in time for Christmas. The day before my entire family...mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, two nephews, niece, husband, son and daughter...gathered around our dining room table for Christmas Eve curry. The day before my very first Christmas snow. The day before my 39th birthday.

And each day seemed like any other day. Little did we know when we laid down to sleep each night that the next day our lives would be changed forever, just a little bit more. And that at the end of the year I would look back and see that we have been unmeasurably and undeservedly blessed. Never once--in all this long year--have I doubted that we were cared for, loved and looked after.

I have a hunch my 40's are going to kick some serious butt.

9 comments:

Marit said...

beautiful way with words, Dori!

Josh Kruschke said...

Happy Birthday.
May the coming year be as eventful and challenging as the last. For with out the challenges of life, we would never grow.

Julia said...

Happy Birthday Dori! What a beautiful and grateful way to look at your life.

randompawses said...

Happy birthday, hon!

Natalie said...

You know, I convinced myself that my birthday really isn't that special and is pretty much just another day to everyone else so I shouldn't make a big deal out of it, but then I realized it's MY day to reflect back on the year, just as you so eloquently have done. Thanks for such a great post and I may just steal the "year in review" idea for my blog as well (except it won't be so nicely worded, but what can you do?!)

Happy Birthday again! It's so fun to know I have such a great person celebrating her day of birth the day before mine. ;)

MrsMonicaLB said...

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!the 40's arent so bad once you get use to the idea and really you have no choice(believe me I know):)

Christina RN LMT said...

Happy Birthday, Dori!

Trust me, it only gets better. :)

Anita said...

I found the 40s to be the years of rediscovery. There was a little agitation here and there because people had to get used to the evolving me.
(Well, maybe it was my mid-forties, because I was still having children at 40 and 42. lol ) And then came peri-menopause, which really goes with the package of becoming wiser.

Regarding your year: What a year it was! It showed what you and your husband are made of. God did an excellent job creating you, and you lived up to it. :)

Liz Hinds said...

That sounds like a good-on-the-whole year. Glad for God's faithfulness.