Today I turned 41.

I’m really good with being 41. Some people get all caught up in the age thing and get depressed over losing their youth, but that is not me. I look over my past 41 years and am excited to be where I am in life.

Did I ever think that I would have 15 amazing children? No. I was going for the even dozen! I have learned in life to let God lead this dance. I have learned that I have two choices…either to choose obedience to my Lord or to choose disobedience. I have learned that life is not about me and pursuing my own selfish wants and desires, but about serving something and someone much bigger then myself! I have learned that sometimes the things that God puts before me make absolutely no sense to the world, but to God they make perfect sense.

I have learned that is better to stand with my arms open wide and to ask God to come inside and fill me up and use me to His hearts content. I have learned that when I walk closely with my Savior that the desires of my heart become the desires of what God had planned for me all along. I have learned the importance of drawing near to my Lord so that He can draw near to me!

Has my life been all pretty in pink? Absolutely not! Just this week we had a sink that ran all night long and flooded three floors. Our house has been at 95+ degrees all week so that everything can get dried out. I can’t use my gas stove because the fans keep blowing the flame out. We have been inconvenienced by being down a bathroom and a half (which makes a huge difference when you have 17 in the household). A few personal possessions were damaged, but it was all things that could easily be replaced. The stresses that come with all of this minor catastrophe are minor compared to what could have happened.

But through all of that, God has blessed our family with amazing friends who stepped up and helped us during our crisis. From coming over early Sunday morning in PJ’s to help clean up the water, to totally changing their schedules to be with us for moral support, to knowing the right people to help evaluate our home, to bringing me over a latte, to bringing us meals….I could go on and on. God wrapped His arms around us through His people.

Has it been easy? Nope. I have broken down and cried a couple times this week. Especially after I fender bender someone on my way home from our Roman feast today! Praise the Lord that the damage was minimal. The police officer said he shouldn’t even had been called. No one was hurt. But I just felt broken after all of it. My sweet husband came to my rescue and helped me walk through it all. We had an amazingly sweet highway patrol officer who patiently listened as I wept through my entire week.

But through it all, God has been carrying me through it all. It is when I am weak that I become strong through my Lord. A very dear friend pointed that out to me this week. That is why it is so important to be deeply rooted in God. For when times get crazy and hard, I can stay on solid ground!

I was able to end my day on a fun note. My sweet man took the whole family out to a chinese buffet. It was all delicious. The best part as my fortune from my fortune cookie. I don’t believe in fortunes, but this was too funny not to share.

My joy does come from my peace today only because my peace comes from the Lord. As far as adventures are concerned, I think I have had enough adventures this week to last me for quite some time!

Did I get any presents you may ask? Yes I did. My kids are going to help build raised beds for my new garden! I am so excited about this. My other gifts were from my husband. He tends to spoil me just a tad bit…

Russell got me a beautiful matching necklace and earrings.

I am blessed with an amazing husband. He is truly a gift from the Lord.

I am blessed. I am proud to be the adopted daughter of my heavenly Father. I am excited to see what this next year will bring. I am an honored that He has entrusted me with my children. And these are the things that are important…