Birthday Boy

Today is our baby's 10th birthday. It's hard to believe 10 years have gone by so quickly. He was a very excited kid when he opened his presents - a tool box with new tools and a Star Wars game for the Wii. If I had been thinking (save the comments - and you know who I am talking to :)) I should have taken pictures of Dylan and Jeff playing the new game on the Wii. It was quite a sight. We enjoyed a cookie cake with 9 candles (we were one short - maybe that's wishful thinking on my part) and watched Dylan blow out 8 candles. Yeap that's right he missed one...maybe that's wishful thinking on his part. Oh, I am not ready for those days!

He was very sweet and thoughtful this morning before he left for school. I've been sick for the past 2 days and he decided to make me toast before he left. When I came downstairs after sleeping for the past day and a half I saw the plate with toast sitting on the counter. He melted my heart! I love that boy!

Both kids are having their birthday parties on Friday night. It will be a full house - 2 adults, 8 kids, and 2 dogs. Could be an interesting evening! Will update you on Saturday night if I have the energy.

On another note, I'm looking forward to starting up Wednesday activities at church this week. It is a great feeling to be exciting about meeting with fellow believers/friends again. It has been a long time! God has been doing amazing things in my life over the past few weeks and I can't wait to reconnect again.

I have been reading "The Heartache No One Sees" by Sheila Walsh and the chapter I just read is titled "Longing to be Loved" with the following verse:

"But You, O God the Lord, deal with me for Your name's sake; because Your mercy is good, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me." Psalm 109:21-22

She goes on to talk about 2 sisters that lived next to each other and both had received a gift box on their front doorsteps. As each one looked in the box and found it to be empty. One said unfortunatly her box was empty and the other said yes mine is too but I will treasure it. The other sister said there is nothing to treasure. She said she planned to sit it on the doorstep each night to see if by morning it was filled. A year had passed. The sisters' experiences with the gifts were worlds apart. One sister used her box to gather flower, pick berries, filled it with autumn leaves, and put a single candle in the box to add warm light to the long winter nights. The other sister had a disappointing year. Each morning she looked to see if her box was filled. It was always empty. For one sister, the box was filled with hope and promise. The other saw it as simply empty.

The boxes represent their lives. One sees the emptiness and waits for someone to come under cover of night and fill that emptiness. One sees the box and accepts it as a gift. Part of the joy of her day is filling her life with good things. She always has something to share, something to give, while her sister waits alone.

Both are believers. One who is disappointed and one that accepts the gift of life. One is an unhappy ghost, the other one accepts the gift represents a resurrected child of God brought back from the dead places of her past.

Each of us is given the gift of life, symbolized by the empty boxes above. Think of your perspective on your life and your response to that gift. Which sister are you more like?

Lately I have been the disappointed one but God has been molding me, protecting me, and always, always loving me. He is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer! Slowly, I am starting to fill my box with the good things in life - faith, family, and friends. God has used many of you in the past few weeks to encourage me and sometimes to light a fire under me to get me moving again. I am forever greatful to you and love you!