It's my birthday!! Well almost...

So as many of you already know, my 31st birthday is Saturday. I have always loved my birthday because I didn't have to share that day with anyone else, people celebrated that day b/c I was born!! It was all about me, most things are, but this day is seriously all about me... My parents always made a big deal about it, even after my parents divorced, there was always something from daddy on my birthday. But as I get older and people have come and gone from life I start getting a little more emotional about the b-day...

For instance, my sweet Mammaw always sent me a card for my special day, it was always signed "Love, mammaw and granddaddy" and the year was always written in the lower right hand corner. She passed away a few years ago and since then I always miss her around this time of year, especially b/c she died about a week after my birthday. A year after her death my aunt (her daughter, and my mother's sister) died suddenly and was buried on the anniversary of Mammaw's death. So March is really no longer a happy time for my family and that's ok... They really try to put on brave faces for my birthday and as the years have passed it has gotten a little easier, but the pain is still there.... I actually expect to go to my mailbox and find a card from Mammaw, but I know it won't be there. I've said it before but it bears repeating, I still miss her and would give everything I own, to hear her sweet voice tell me she loves me...

Also, my dear friend that helped me celebrate last year (the one who sent me the flowers for Valentine's day) is deployed in Iraq, and I really miss him, especially b/c he LOVES a good party!! He actually made me 2 CD's for my birthday last year, he called them my Booty Shakin 30th birthday Cd's... I have been listening to them all week to get pumped for the big day... But I would give just about anything to have him home and know that he is safe... That would be a marvelous, marvelous gift...

But we will celebrate!! My friends are taking me out so it should be very fun, I am really looking forward to it... With the exception of the Junior League event I have to work the day of my birthday, yep I have to be there at 6:30 am... I know, I should have just said, nope, I'm not going to be there, it's my birthday but I have started a new tradition. It started last year when I turned 30, I felt I had everything I needed and was more than blessed so what was I going to do with useless gifts?? You know those gifts that usually consist of some awful smelling bath salts or lotion and you have to pretend to like, all the while knowing it was going in the re-gift closet at home...So I asked my party guests to make a donation to my favorite charity, which was Nashville Cares (and HIV/AIDS awarness group). So this year I thought I would actually give back to the community and work a charitable event on my actual birthday... I am also asking my party guests this year should they choose to give me a gift to make it in the form of a donation to the House of Mercy, where I am a Board Member... No, I'm not Mother Teresa and I am not looking for praise... I just want to give back... The Lord has truly blessed me, and He teaches us to help the "least of these" so that's all I'm doing, just what the Lord says...

Besides, I gotta lot of making up to do for my college years!! Whew!! Jesus saw fit to get me through those days alive and pretty much intact, so I fell I owe it to him to do some good now..

So happy birthday to me, happy brithday to all of us... Birthdays are a celebration of the life God has given us. Let us rejoice and give thanks!