birthday blessings

Yesterday was a wonderful day. The sun was shining all day; the puffy clouds floated away gently. My friends, family, Vandy people, and NEP girls really out did themselves in making it a fabulous day.

I woke early to have breakfast at Panera with a student. I loved the Cinnamon Crunch bagel :) After Panera with Nina, I headed across campus to meet another fun-loving student at the on campus Starbucks. I got lost along the way, ended up in the wrong building and was annoyed with myself. I stopped a student walking by, and she graciously and wonderfully escorted me to the Starbucks. We had a great conversation, what a blessing she was to my day. Tea with Lauren was fabulous; we share a lot of similar life experiences, hopes, and fears. After tea with her, I had my weekly meeting with Jennifer. She constantly challenges me to look at my life and my being differently--which I'm loving.

I was running behind for my next appointment when Jennifer and I finished, so I neglected to notice that my other co-workers had put a large sign up in the office, made me a cake, and wanted to celebrate! The next thing on my agenda was going to Downtown Pres to help with the Wednesday homeless lunch. I meet and engaged with several men there; Fabian even stood up and started singing "Happy Birthday" to me. Instead of saying my name, he called me Miss Pennsylvania. When Ken, my pastor, heard that it was my b-day, he acknowledged that it was his birthday as well. We are birthday buddies!

I spent the rest of my afternoon opening cards, laughing, returning phone calls, reading, and enjoying the blessings of another year and another special day. Thank you for the facebook posts, cards, phone calls, packages, gifts. . . you contributed to a wonderful day!