Another year

For many people, September is the start of the "new year". You can really feel it, particularly living with school teachers, working on a program that runs with the university schedule myself AND with the sudden change in weather. I'm feeling quite sad that it's as cold as it is. Already! This time of year actually is a new year for me, because it is my birthday. I used to hate that my birthday was at the beginning of September. School friends would never remember because we wouldn't have seen each other over the summer and then being back to school was the new excitement instead. Since elementary and high school though, my birthday celebrations have more than made up for the neglect of younger days. And yesterday was no exception.

Cards and gifts arriving in the mail from family started the heart warming. Then there's all the nice Facebook and email birthday messages--some a pleasant surprise. I actually wanted to keep my birthday a bit low key this year, realizing just how much I've been blessed by friends and various forms of all-day celebrations over the last number of years. I tried to put in a normal day at work, but really ended up having a nice time spending the day with co-workers and friends. Fantastic breakfast, fabulous lunch....And at dinner time, I was blown away by the friends around me. Such generous, giving and loving people. I was very moved by the words spoken and prayed over me on my birthday. My friends all spontaneously shared a goal they would like to see my 28th year achieve. From comedy (getting on Hole in the Wall or attracting the attention of Wentworth Miller) to sincere concern for me to have a happier year with much less hard times than I've had over the last couple years.

So here's to hoping! And here's me thanking God for the blessings of friends.
And here I am, at 28.

Happy New You!

My brother sent out the following about his son (my nephew), recently diagnosed autistic. His email has sparked much response including a sermon topic. May these thoughts also bless you.

Ezra sings the following:

"We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New You! Good tidings to you, wherever you are, good tidings at Christmas and a Happy New You! We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New You!"

Considering that in July, Ezra had a vocabulary under 40 words and hardly spoke at all, that’s amazing. To me it’s also profound. Instead of wishing you all a Happy New Year (so common, so predictable, so un-Ezra) I now wish everyone a Happy New You! Your new year may not be what you’re hoping for or very happy, but your New You, I hope it exceeds all your expectations and your circumstances. May your New You be happy. May it be more kind, more helpful, more beautiful, and more wonderful. May it be everything you ever wished for and everything those around you begged God for. May you be new and renewed and feel brand new and better than you ever knew. May your “After” pictures always be better than your “Before” pictures. When the New Year becomes old and tired, may You still be New. Happy Birthday! Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Happy New You!