A Birthday Present

We seniors aren’t especially fond of tacking on another year when a birthday rolls around. Our fragile body parts remind us we are no longer invincible. My calendar tells me I need a tooth restored, surgery on two toes and removal of cataracts.

Today is my birthday. I woke up this morning thinking of ways to grow old gracefully but switched to thoughts of thanksgiving and, why not? I have been blessed.

My family arrived on Friday. Joyous faces filled my home along with fun food, laughter, games and lots of rich birthday cake. This bunch is a party in themselves.

Actually, my birthday celebration began last week. The husband invited me to drive up to the mountains with him and have lunch in our favorite town. With appetites satisfied, he dropped me off at the mall with a generous gift card and told me what every woman loves to hear: “Take your time!” That’s where I discovered a birthday present I wanted with all my heart.

While shopping, I accidentally backed into a perfume display and hit the jackpot. Amazing Grace! I discovered this light scent last year and bookmarked it in my brain as a must have. But, it’s pricey. I grabbed a bottle.

Amazing Grace in its pale pink pretty packaging reigns top of the list this year when it comes to birthday presents. Also, it confirms my 2021 word from the Lord: grace! I’ll be digging in my Bible with hopes to learn the accurate meaning of God’s amazing grace. Not the phony, copycat definitions of favor. God’s Word, my benchmark for truth, will help me figure it out.

Amazing Grace Perfume’s manufacturer, Philosophy, spews gibberish about this gem on the box. The message talks of life’s ups and downs and a need for grace to be able to make it through the day. But there’s a better philosophy; it dates back 2,000 years when Jesus made a way to God’s throne for believers.

The Cross, A Perfect Way

The reason grace is so amazing is because I can’t earn it. I can’t buy it. It is freely given from a Savior who laid down His life so I can be forgiven and access Heaven. Every morning when I spray a lavish mist of Amazing Grace and dance wholly into it, I will remember God’s great gift to me. Oh Lord, help me to remember to give grace freely to others as well.

Tomorrow my family will leave, every opened and read birthday card will be filed away and the cake will be a distant memory. However, the best gift-- Amazing Grace—lives on in sweet salvation.

The Venomous Intruder

It’s the middle of rattlesnake season here on the ranch. The local news anchor confirmed it. I’ve seen two already. While driving along our dirt road yesterday, I mistook a virulent enemy for a branch. I backed up the car, looked again and noticed the branch shifted revealing a rattle at its end. At one of our road association meetings in the barn, Shelby stood up and shouted, “ BOB !” to my next door neighbor. He’s our vice president and the one all eyes were on as he gave a presentation in the middle of the room. I sensed fear in the way she yelled his name. I learned after the meeting that Shelby called out to him like that because she saw a rattler slither in the barn door where she and I sat. Bob yielded to the interruption and quietly dispatched the enemy. Ten minutes later, this tough guy was back to center stage falling right back in step with the business at hand. Bob is my new best friend. ...

Let's Live Together

I took a Ziploc bag of frozen pork chops out of the freezer and set them in the refrigerator to thaw. I decided to make one of my favorite crock pot recipes with them. I threatened the husband with a black eye if he ate the last of the sour cream because I needed it for that simple recipe. The next day, I carried my crock pot to my island in the kitchen and mixed the sour cream with an envelope of onion soup mix and decided to rinse the defrosted meat at the sink before adding to my recipe. Then I noticed something. They weren’t pork chops. To my surprise, I witnessed defrosted chicken thighs. Very big chicken thighs; it must have been a hippy chicken. The freezer bag’s label read Dec. ’15 in the husband’s writing. I assumed it contained pork chops. I was wrong. Write it like a man. Thinking like a man would think, he probably guessed that any fool could see these are chicken thighs when he placed them in a clear gal...

Marriage Tip #44: Do What He Wants

I thought about our upcoming anniversary. I prayed one morning for the marriages in my family, and a sentence about my own dropped in my spirit: “ Do What He Wants .” I paused, “Really?” He’s his own man. What if I end up in the wilderness camping by night and target shooting by day? What if a coyote decides to have me as a late night snack? We celebrated our anniversary early this year, Before the kids come next week. And we did it his way . This is how it happened. I never asked him about a plan or even mentioned our day. I remember how it all unfolded at the roundabout just as we drove into Sedona. He asked me if I would like to go to a baseball game. I responded excitedly, “Yeah!” Before the day was over, he purchased tickets for a Diamondbacks home game. He printed them out. He booked a hotel room so we wouldn’t have to drive home from the city after the late evening game. ...

DUTAJanuary 31, 2021 at 11:28 AM
Happy Birthday Mary! Enjoy God's gift and your favorite perfume Amazing Grace!
The cake looks rich, and the candle bright and warming! Your family is a great Blessing.
Many happy returns of the Day!
Mevely317January 31, 2021 at 11:51 AM
Happy Birthday blessings, Mary! I'm so glad to hear your family feted you in the fashion you so deserve. I'm no expert, but guess Mr. God is looking down at you with a BIG smile on His face.
Kim @ Homesteader's HeartJanuary 31, 2021 at 7:54 PM
Awe....I love this! And Happy Birthday!!! And thank you so much for stopping by. I thought everyone had disappeared. LOL!
HUGS!
Kim
Creations By CindyFebruary 1, 2021 at 6:25 AM
What a precious post dear Mary. AMAZING GRACE from our Lord is amazing and I bet your Amazing Grace perfume is too! So glad that you had a wonderful birthday. They do tend to roll around quicker don't they ? LOL! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
CherylFebruary 1, 2021 at 4:26 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, sweet friend! I am so thankful you had such a wonderful birthday filled with fun and surrounded by the ones you love the most. May the dear Lord bless this to be your happiest year ever and may He bless you with many, many more happy, healthy birthdays, in Jesus' name! Love and appreciate you so much!
shayndelFebruary 2, 2021 at 2:31 AM
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shayndelFebruary 2, 2021 at 2:34 AM
Hi Mary, Happy Birthday!! May you be a fragrant aroma in Christ as you wear the perfume and always!! Much Love and blessings , good health and joy unending on your birthday and many, many more!!!♡
RCUBEsFebruary 3, 2021 at 8:38 AM
Happy, happy birthday sister Mary! I don't think it was accidental that you discovered the perfume last year, only to be bought a year later. The Lord gave it and He always gives everything in His perfect time! Grace! We all need it! Especially at these tumultuous time! But what option do we have? Nothing but always focus on our Great Savior and His grace! Your aroma from life to life always increases my faith sister Mary. I have been AWOL from blogging but never in my prayers. I always keep you in my thoughts and prayers so I know the Lord is always there with you, no matter what fragile body parts need replacing! It's awesome you had a fun day with your family...God bless and strengthen you always sister Mary! Thank you for always sharing with us your love for Jesus! Love and prayers always.
BrendaFebruary 5, 2021 at 3:52 PM
Sounds like you had a lovely birthday Mary, and the perfume sounds lovely. Whenever I think of birthdays I never think of getting one year older, as we are only a day older than we was the day before :-}

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