Blessings overflowing!

Tomorrow, today will be yesterday, and I will have begun yet another year in the life of me.  For some reason remembering the day of ones birth is an occasion many try to run from.  I have embraced it.  I am excited to see what happens in this 40th year of my journey.  I am happy with where I am in life.  I am thankful for what God has done, and am eager to follow His leading.

Yesterday a very special friend came to visit me.  We found great pleasure in laughing at the oddest things, we gorged on Thai food, and shopped at some very off the wall places.  After Trevor's first basketball game of the season (which they won)  we were off to another "destination".  There I was greeted by a fantastic group of ladies from church.  Yet again, I was reminded how special friendships are.  It is amazing how therapeutic laughter can be.  

Unfortunately the only picture I have at the moment was taken from an iPhone.  This is everyone but two.

The celebration continued on through today.  Lunch with friends.  Tulips and sympathy.  Cards and more cards.  Packages from a most special lady.  Movie and dinner with Ron.  Relaxing, enjoying, smiling, laughing.  It was a weekend I will not soon forget.

Now this may sound a bit odd, but sometimes in a persons life, it is nice to be reminded that people care.  This weekend was an abundance of  just exactly that.

This Birthday thing is starting out very good!

Tomorrow I will join the ranks of the very mature.  It is an exclusive group.  It takes many years before you can be included, 40 to be exact.  I have worked hard, taken notes, and now my moment has finally come.  

My dear sweet husband, has been taking notes as well.

Today a package arrived.  Knowing that I would beg and plead, I was allowed to open it early.  It was a beautiful camera bag.  My new hobby is photography.  I love taking pictures.  Now that there is no film to wait to have developed, it is instant satisfaction.  The bag is more than just a camera bag.  It is art!  And it is made by a company named Jill-E, how perfect is that!

I love it.  I love my husband.  I love my family.  I love being 40!

Time does fly!

As of yesterday, Jillian is eight.  She is a joy.  I have never know a child so full of life all the time.  She is continually happy, giggly, and silly.  Jilli was so excited about her birthday.  She insisted on making her own cake.  She counted down the days and then hours to this momentous occasion. 

Eight years ago, I fell in love with Jillian and my love for her grows each day.  

Christmas Blessing

Something bizarre has happened to me.  I'm not sure if it is the fact that I have become resolved to the fact that Alaska will be my home for many more years, or maybe I have actually begun to like it here, or maybe God has been gracious and has given me a peace about calling Alaska home. 

Whatever the case may be, this Christmas season did not bring nearly the heartbreak as previous years.  I am so thankful for my husband and my four wonderful kids.  God has blessed us over and over.  We have health, home, employment, friends, family and most of all the love of a Savior.

To all my friends and family: Thank you for your love and support through the years.  The Howe family has been blessed by you.

As for the picture...it was a goofy pic from Christmas morning.  I just couldn't resist.  Pretty scary huh :)

Cookie Maddness

Love my husband, but why is it that he always comes up with these fantastic ideas that involve tons of work for me.  I'm quite sure I'd never do that to him.  Just because the window washing turned into new windows and new siding, doesn't give him the right to force me into the cookie making business, does it?

So Ron wanted to give the people in his department cookies for Christmas.  14 plates of cookies and bars later, I was still smiling.  The girls had a fabulous time baking.  I was basically the supervisor!

And the bonus - I got my Christmas present early.  A new Kitchen Aid mixer.  My previous one had a bad encounter with a chef in training.