Happy, Happy Me

This is my birthday post so if you want to skip a completely ‘me,me,me’ kind of post look away now!

Today is my birthday. I like birthdays a lot and I’m especially pleased to be turning 34. Turns out 33 has been rather a large year for me what with (in some sort of chronological order):

Living with my parents for 2 months of it – actually make that 3

Moving into a new home

Losing my mother-in-law

Surviving a serious of major earthquakes

Having my sister’s wedding (4 days later – and having to wash my hair in 10cm of water for the event because we only just had water back)

Finding out our old house (our first house) had been condemned by the earthquake

Being a census enumerator – until the census was cancelled

Speaking in church a couple of times

My father and father-in-law having medical heart dramas

Having my oldest son start school

Farewelling my older sister for her adventure overseas

Being burgled

Having my baby start kindy

Getting a bike and riding it on the school and kindy run nearly every day

Finding out we are expecting a  first niece or nephew

Celebrating 12 years of marriage

Supporting The Atlas as his work has gone crazy and he has led one of the teams writing the new plan for our city (very proud of him for what he has achieved this year)

Made all our bread by hand all year (without a bread maker)

Discovered a whole host of amazing blogs, got into pinterest and met some very amazing Christchurch and Auckland bloggers in person

Made something or things every week for make my week

Started to get a bit more of an understanding of some of the dreams that live inside my heart

Lost about 7kg

Done some paid and un-paid acting and speaking

Completed a major house renovation (always takes longer than it says on paper!)

Run and under 5s music group

Started new family traditions

Made a lot of new and wonderful friends

Made all our dishwasher powder and laundry liquid and bench spray

Gone ‘deeper in and higher up’ (to borrow a Narnia phrase) with the One who makes all things beautiful at the right time.

Not a complete list but you get the idea!

So yup it’s been a big year. A big year and in so many ways one of the very best years ever and I say that with no sarcastic tone. This year I have realised and lived that the deep heart work and the people you journey with are the things that bring greatest satisfaction and deepest joy. Because the work He’s started isn’t finished but He has promised and He will continue with great care until it is complete – and that my soul knows very well.

 Here’s to being 34.

Thanks for journeying with me.

photos of me and some cakes I just made and 2 of my early presents, thanks mama!