Like a Lion in a Cage, the devil tried to steal my joy: Choosing to Receive Great Joy on My Birthday!
Expectations:
My Birthday Expectations that I set for myself way in advance
What My Day Was Gonna Look Like (says me)
Wake up feeling great, healthy and energized!
Coffee date with my girls on the way to class
Special trip to big art supply store in Raleigh with son
Special lunch date with son at favorite restaurant
Wrap Christmas gifts while playing Christmas music
Nice dinner out with family
Church service
Family movie while enjoying candy cane ice cream
and more..
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| My beautiful daughter who has Ehlers Danlos lll and more (genetic connective tissue disorder) but doesn't let it stop her! Her Blog: http://mysicklife2012.blogspot.com/2014/03/everything-is-changing.html |
Reality Upon Waking Up On My Birthday:
Woke up at 2:00am spending the next couple hours contemplating another trip to the ER
After deciding not to go, added to that, felt like a mack truck ran over me (twice)- flare up threatening to keep me in bed all day. Also stomach stopped working, again
Felt down right pissed, disappointment and discouraged
Finally got my butt up anyway
Hemmed and hawed over doing birthday plan despite everything
Reality kicked in, not even possible, couldn't even drive
Stayed home all day besides getting to church (praise God)
Could barely eat, stomach not working, day riddled in severe joint pain and other
My daughter who lovingly helped drive my other daughter to class, came back in crisis mode with high fever and suddenly very sick, throwing up and passing out
Husband had to leave church ASAP later that night because she was so sick
Not what I had in mind for the day!!
Re-evaluating and Changing MY EXPECTATIONS
After finding myself spiraling rapidly towards disappointment, sadness and lion-like grumpiness on my birthday...
I MADE A CHOICE
A VERY SERIOUS ONE
A VERY CONSCIOUS ONE
ONE THAT IN MY PAST I WOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED TO DO
I Was Going to Change My Self Made Expectations
I'm glad I did this early in the morning too. In fact, before anyone else woke up. It set the tone of the household.
I decided that the day may not look like what I had carefully painted ahead of time in my noggin but that didn't mean that it couldn't STILL look good. Even EXCELLENT.
So This Became My New Plan:
Be happy I even woke up today, some people didn't!
This is the day the Lord has made;We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NKJV
Start the day off with my beloved Clam Bake! (alone time with God)
(Going to God first is ALWAYS the answer. See my Clam Bake blog)
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went
out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35 NKJV
Carefully notice and observe ALL my many blessings through out the day!
“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NKJV
If I land in bed here and there during the day, gonna do it in style! It's OK! Enjoy the nice blankets my husband bought me so that I'm comfortable in bed so often! Bring Licky!
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| Polly. But we call her Licky because she licks EVERYTHING! |
Watch some ministry and bible studies I am blessed to be able to have on TV, ETC. Something funny perhaps. Enjoy rest, sleep if I can.
Make the house warm and cozy and enjoy staying home. Candles, Christmas music, etc.
Enjoy that fact that I still have some of my kids in the house!
Get to church service, if not, still count blessings.
THE DAY and What REALLY happened.
*My day was beyond blessed. I reaped ten fold. It was way better than I had planned.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV
*I had several meaningful discussions at the kitchen table, while enjoying lots of hot tea with my precious son. We didn't need to go anywhere to do that!
*Spent good quality time with my other precious kids as well. My favorite thing to do.
*Although my heart ached for my daughter who was feeling rotten, I was blessed to be able to serve her while she was sick. It was fulfilling and something I long to do as a mother. It is my JOB. And I was able to tend to it WELL on this day. I can't always do that, which makes me sad.
*I so enjoyed the Christmas music, the candles, the rainy outside weather and seeing all my meaningful birthday posts on Facebook that took me by surprise.
*My kids took crazy GOOD care of me. Asking me what they could do, keeping the house clean, running errands, getting me surprises!
*Very special phone calls
*My very own Special Birthday Bush!!! If you read my last blog on the Outdoor Christmas Lighting Debacle, you'll get it! The kids used WARM NON-LED lights and filled a bush outside my window! I LOVE IT!!
*Unexpected visit from a special friend. Very meaningful.
*My best friend showed up with my favorite amazing dessert and her beautiful son drew me a special picture!!
*My children not only gave me gifts but well thought out gifts. It made me feel special that they take time to observe their mother and what she enjoys. Wow! No words to describe!
This renders me speechless. It makes me feel loved.
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| Video of him eating is adorable! Had trouble downloading it! |
*Call me weird, the NEW dragon lizard! I find GREAT joy in how the Lord delights in creating things so intricate and detailed and just plain fun just for our enjoyment!! How cool is that!!
*The sounds of the household, like my kids baking in the kitchen. Laughter. Best sounds to fill the house! The sounds of CLEANING up, don't get it wrong, I like that too!
*I enjoyed lots of bedtime rest that helped to restore me!
*My husband got home early from work and we played Cribbage!! Dang it, he won though. No mercy on my day!
All THIS and much more on my birthday.
I am richly blessed.
AND I ALMOST MISSED IT.
AND BAZAAR, I'm feeling better already today.
Came home from church to these.
And my very favorite part of my birthday, the annual love letter from my husband.
YOU won't hear what's in it!! But I''l never need another material gift again!
(Maybe don't tell him that!)
There is nothing better than a love letter from the one you adore.
And I WAS GONNA BE GRUMPY TODAY.
How dare I.
IMPORTANT Note to ME
Whenever I put my feet to the faith in Obedience I have a greater desire to please the Lord.
When I have a greater desire to please the Lord,
I reap in great
JOY!
Thank you to everyone for blessing me with kind wishes, thoughts, and encouragement!
I ALWAYS love comments! Even constructive criticism!
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