Birthday Blessings!

Hello, friends and readers! I hope this day finds you well.

I turned twenty-two a few days ago! Yay! It's fun to have a birthday celebration to brighten up the winter.

I was so blessed to be able to celebrate with my mom, sisters, aunts, and friends. All special ladies! *hugs them* We got ready, packed lunches, met up, and spent the day in the city.

I wore my "new" shirt! Simple, black, and comfortable. I bought it from Goodwill for around $2. And I found a purple, sparkly choker from Walmart for $1. Fun, fun! ^_^

What better way to spend my birthday than roaming around a giant bookstore?? I could hardly tear myself away from this store. *laughs*

A big stack of books, and I'm only $1.70 poorer for it! Look at these lovelies!! I found lots of Christian Living, Christian fiction, some children's & classics, and a couple movies.

So exciting to find Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery, which is the last ANNE OF GREEN GABLES book that I need to read, and will complete my collection!

And I was thrilled to get Recovering Redemption by Matt Chandler, which I had been looking for!

Super excited to read The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen, An Ocean Away by Lisa Harris, and To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain by Matt Chandler.

This bookstore is one that you can trade books in. So I brought about one and half bags of books to trade in, and got $40 store credit! Thus, the reason I didn't spend much from my wallet.

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After spending a good deal of time in this amazing store, we did a little grocery shopping.

And then we went out for pizza! This was not planned, but I looked up restaurants and found a place with gluten-free, dairy-free pizza. The place was cozy and fun, and the food absolutely delicious!

It was such a wonderful day. Praise the Lord! So glad I have family and my Bible study ladies to hang out with!

Here are some darling gifts I got from sweet family and friends. Stocking up on the chocolate, yes, indeed! *grins*

Such a good day. And I'm looking forward with hope and expectation to what God, my Joy, is going to do in my 22nd year of life!

Celebrate Well

Happy Thanksgiving, readers! I hope your day is blessed and filled with joy!

Today I will be gathering with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. To eat delicious food and enjoy good fellowship.

I just want to say a few, quick words on here. And that is this ... As we enter the holiday season, remember to celebrate well. Don't get so caught up in the busyness, materialism, unrealistic expectations, and stress that you miss the gift of joy, stillness, gratitude, and awe.

Spend today thanking God for the breath He has filled your lungs with! Thank Him for every little gift and every blessing in disguise. Thank Him for every big delight and special happiness. Thank Him even for the struggles that grow you closer to Him.

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Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

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For He satisfies the longing soul,

And fills the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalm 107:8-9)

Today I thank Him for the gift He has given me of family and friends. And the joy of being able to cook and bake together with my mom and sisters, and then enjoy that food with loved ones!

And I thank Him for the blessing of anticipation. I look forward to the Christmas season and celebrating His coming. Of Christ's coming into our lives. This is a crowning moment when it comes to our faith. When God pursued us!

So enjoy your Thanksgiving Day. And look forward to Christmas. Choose joy. Sit in awe. Embrace your loved ones. Count those blessings. Rejoice in the life God has given you, and use it to glorify Him. Glorify Him this holiday season. And celebrate well.

9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13)