Birthdays, A Celebration of Life?

Birthdays are usually thought of as another year older. Whether it's the year to get your driver's license, to have the right to vote, or to be considered an adult; they keep coming whether we like it or not. Even though they are a reminder that life is fleeting, I've always liked to think of them as another year more experienced, wiser and hopefully much smarter. This year, my birthday brought a lot more than that. Don't get me wrong, as you will eventually see from the pictures below, it's been a wonderful year of celebrating birthdays in our little family! Mackenzie is now 2, Mason is 6, and Dan & I are...well, we'll just say another year older! LOL!

It is just that this year, with the recent loss of my Father, birthdays have become all the more meaningful. They have become a celebration of life and the miracle that it is. A reminder that with Me, God, my Family and my Friends, I am everything...a miracle, a daughter, a wife, a mother, and a friend. A complete and happy person. It can be easy to take this for granted and forget this simple, yet powerful meaning of life when dealing with life's challenges we all face. I am recently very much guilty of this. Over the years, life has consumed me with all sorts of what nots, from bad to good and back again...(now bare with me) in no particular order, life became old and familiar to new and unfamiliar, changed to unchanged, boring to overwhelming and scary, grounded to flooded, to grief stricken, consumed, hopeless, hopeful, simple to confusing, friend to foe, a bully, exhausting, taken day by day, trying to survive, survivor, fulfilled, lonely, happy to sad, ugly, hateful, mean, cruel, one big colossal joke, empty, empowered, conquered, beaten, angry, friendly, colorful, funny, quiet, loud, obnoxious, fake, tragic, understood to misunderstood, surprising, frightened, immature, sacred, forgiving and unforgiving, trusting, unbelievable, friendly and unfriendly, forgiving and unforgiving, frustrating, disappointing, cheated, betrayed, helpless, helpful, nurtured, amazing, judgmental, assuming, gentle, inviting, uninviting, heartless, strange, unbelievable, empowering, annoying, painful, breath-taking, trust-worthy, frightening, sacred, innocent, accepting to unaccepted, freeing, imprisoned, sorrowful, worthless, regretful, resentful, cowardly, brave, self aware, unaware, empathetic, deflecting, connected, disconnected, untouchable, attacked, secure to insecure and back again, vulnerable, selfish to selfless, strong, grateful, blessed, beautiful, tender, present, confident, loving, and complete. Oh and I could go on! We've all experienced one, if not more or all of these listed above. And in one brief moment, it can all make sense again and we have a purpose. Though life may come with all of the above, it is a miracle. Thank you Dan for reminding me of my purpose. When trying to deal with challenge, it's so easy to get consumed by it and if it weren't for your gentle reminder I don't know if I would have realized that it's been right in front of me all along.

So, long story short, being grateful for my life I have been given and share with my husband and family, and the friends I have and have had, has a whole NEW meaning to it. Now, when life gets me down and throws me for a loop, I now remember to ask myself, "What is my foundation to true happiness?" And my answer is just that..."my life I have been given and share with my husband and family, and the friends I have and have had." 

And Now Birthday Pictures!!!