Today was my birthday. My 32nd birthday! It was a good day to end a wonderful, crazy year and kick off a year of unknown adventure. I will do a year end post in a couple of weeks (I need those days to finish up a couple 2014 goals) so now I will just tell you about today.
In my morning Bible reading I caught up on the haftarah portions. This year’s Torah reading started on October 18, but I started this week. Over the last four days I caught up on the Torah portions, today I read all the haftarah readings, and tomorrow I’ll catch up the gospel portions. Well the first haftarah portion for the year is Isaiah 42:5 – 43:11. Go ahead and go read it, I’ll wait. What a way to start the day; promise on promise to take with us next year. After reading several passages from the prophets I was pretty pumped up and encouraged!
For the last several years, I have asked family and friends to join me for an activity rather than buying me presents. In addition to not really needing or wanting things, I lived in a 450 sq ft condo that did not allow for the accumulation of things. It’s a wonderful tradition that I will continue, and highly recommend.
2011 – Mannheim Steamroller concert
2012 – Cross country ski trip to Yellowstone National Park (got to go big when you turn 30)
2013 – outdoor Matisyahu concert at a ski resort followed by pizza
This year I learned that Alabama’s oldest theatre is in Birmingham and one of their traditions is to do a week of holiday movies this time of year. Today’s movie was the original Miracle on 34th Street from 1947 staring Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood. Mom, my brother, and my nephew and his family joined me for the movie, and then we went for Mexican after. A black and white movie in a historic theatre followed by tacos, horchata, and homemade devil’s food cake all with family. Does it get any better than that? It was also the girls’ (my great-nieces) first black and white film so I feel I contributed to an important part of their education. It’s amazing what one picks up in a movie when watching it as an adult. For example, the little Dutch girl is a war orphan. It gives a whole new perspective to the movie when one realizes that the movie was released just two years after the end of WWII. The entire country was disillusioned and needed to regain its innocence and fantasy. I just love old movies, my nieces may need to watch a few more to appreciate them. 🙂
A few minutes ago, I received this message from my mentor. “I hope you had a full and uplifting birthday where you were surprised by joy and filled with hope.” That friends summarized my day! Let me tell you about some joy and hope.
Back in September as we approached our first fundraising deadline I freaked out. I was short by a significant, insurmountable amount and allowed it to shake my confidence in God’s calling and provision. The day of the deadline (a Friday) God said, “That’s it you can only check your fundraising account once a week from now on.” I picked Sundays. He replied, “That’s fine but not this Sunday.” I had to wait a whole week, and in that time God told me to look at fundraising not as a burden but rather as a birthday. He said to look forward to each Sunday with anticipation of the gifts and surprises He would bring. Let me tell you, when God says He is going to bring birthday surprises He does not disappoint. Each week I saw donations from people who could not afford to donate, donations with special stories behind them, donations from family friends from my kindergarten days, and much more. I rested in His promise to provide which allowed me to calmly call friends and chat with them about the Race and their lives so that deeper connections were made. In September, I did not realize that this year my actual birthday would fall on a Sunday. Well my actual birthday God had the best surprise.
This morning I learned that I am fully funded!!!
More than two weeks before our launch and I am funded. That is more than two weeks earlier than I was hoping to be funded. God is so good. Surprised by joy… Check!
Today I received several wonderful birthday wishes and blessings. I had encouraging and uplifting conversations with many family members. Then tonight as we drove home one of my nieces called to wish me happy birthday. She also had some special news. Another little Stephens is due to arrive next year!! I predict a boy. Filled with hope… Check! 2015 is going to be an incredible year.
Today was the perfect birthday, lacking only one major component. I ended the night by listening to a birthday message from my Dad that has been saved on my phone a few years. His terrible singing, a sweet wish, and his unforgettable laugh. Perfection.
