Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
Jeremiah 1:5

Years ago someone gave me a small desk calendar with Scripture verses for each day and a little thought to ponder under the verse. I used to keep the calendar on the desk in my office so that each morning before people arrived at school (or at the student center) I would have something with which to pray.

Now, since I don’t have an office, I keep the calendar on my bed-side table. Each morning after I turn off my alarm the first thing I do is flip the page to see what the day’s verse and thought are. This morning, it was Jeremiah 1:5 (above). The thought to ponder or pray with today reads,

If You were there even before I was born, then, I know,
You’ll be with me throughout the whole journey ahead.

How appropriate!! Why? Today I celebrate my 32nd birthday…

It’s a beautiful day in Dayton today. We have a porch swing on our back porch here. So this morning I took some time out on the swing to watch the breeze blow through the trees and the sun take its place in the early morning sky. I also took time to reflect.

Each year my birthday is a pretty significant time of reflection. I like to look back on the year – giving thanks for its many blessings, considering the ways in which I’ve grown, and also taking a good look at the ways I could use some growth. My birthday has also been a time for me to consider the year ahead – how will the year be different and how can I be a better person in the coming year than in the one past?

Needless to say, this morning I had A LOT on which to reflect! So much has taken place in my inner life that it’s sometimes difficult to understand that it’s only been a year. There is so much for which I am grateful… my congregation, the two communities of which I’ve been a part, my amazing friends, my family, all the students who have been or are a part of my life… my health… Such blessings! Then, there are the many ways in which I’ve grown over the past 12 months… too much to go into now, but I think you can read through previous blogs to see some of that. And, of course, being who I am, I thought a lot about how I could be a better person in the coming year than the past year.

As I commence my 33rd year of life (yes, you read that correctly - I am 32 today, but this is the beginning of my 33rd year) I also realize that this is my last year as a non-professed woman. Next summer at this time I will be making final preparations for my first vows as a Marianist Sister! That’s an overwhelming reality. Thank goodness I’ve given up on the idea that a person has to be perfect before professing vows…. Otherwise, I would truly be “freaking out” by now. *smile*

Well, today 4 good friends of mine will join our community for lunch, cake & ice cream and just hanging out. I’m excited about that. I’m also excited and ready to see what this next year brings my way. As my “thought for the day” reminded me, God has been with me and will continue to be with me throughout whatever the journey ahead may bring…

NOTE: The above was written around 10:30am... Now, it is nearly 9pm... and I have to tell you, today has been one of the best birthdays of my recent past. There is much for which I am grateful... I am reminded of a song by Travis Tritt, "It's a Great Day to be Alive"...

And it's a great day to be alive

I know the sun's still shinin' when I close my eyes

There's some hard times in the neighborhood

But why can't every day be just this good?

I was singing that to myself as the group dispersed this evening... It is in deed a great day to be alive...

Many blessings to all who read this!
Sr. N