on turning 32 and feeling loved

I turned 32 years old yesterday.

The day was pretty great all around.  There was sleeping in and hiking (Clara complained the entire time about how tired she was) and more hiking and chocolate icing eating and napping and a run (while Travis vacuumed and cleaned the house) and peanut butter smoothies and Pete’s Dragon (a movie that the kids picked especially for my birthday just because they thought I’d like it.).  I was serenaded a couple of times throughout the day by the sweetest little voices – each time they called me, “Lindsay” instead of “Mama” which cracked me up.  My present was new curtains for the front room (honest to goodness that’s exactly what I wanted.)  Over 300 people wished me birthday on Facebook and my closest friends texted or called.  Porter was on his best behavior all day long and I’m pretty sure he made a deal with his body to not poop as much as normal because he loves his mama.   Travis thought the best way to end the day would be for him to play with my hair while watching a movie and that’s exactly what happened.

Head to pillow, all I could think on was how loved I felt.

Homemade cards and a deconstructed chocolate birthday cake with no actual cake.  So a blob of chocolate frosting on a plate.

LOVE.

It’s what we were created for.  To love God and to love our neighbor and to love the Earth and to love our enemies.

To feel loved is ….well…it’s lovely.

My hope for all of us is that we KNOW, like really know, how loved we are.  Unconditionally.  In spite of our unlovable parts.

True. love.

I can look around and see God’s hand in so many parts of my life.  I feel love from family and friends, but my Father’s love is SO much greater.  It makes me smile, it makes me savor …and then … it makes me want to turn around and show that great love to others.

That’s YOU, reader.

This blog is just a small platform for that testimony.  But it’s one that I’ll use for as long as I can.

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.  -Jeremiah 31:3 (AMP)

Happy birthday to me.  And happy always-feel-loved day to you.

splendid…lindsay