My "Sweetness" Birthday!

I got a fun birthday card this week from one of my creative college friends who wished me a “Happy Walter Payton Birthday!” Thank you friend! 🙂 For those not from the Chicago area or familiar with one of the Chicago Bears football team’s most famous players, Walter Payton, the number he wore on his jersey was 34 and that is how old I am turning today. Walter Payton’s nickname was “sweetness” and thus I figure today is also therefore my sweetness birthday!

You may have guessed that the picture here is of me when I was a toddler, thirtysometing years ago. I believe it was taken on or around the time of my first birthday. My parents had made our unfinished basement, in the house we lived in back then, into a playground of sorts, complete with a jungle gym (as you might be able to make out in the background) and the swing I am riding on in this photo! Whee!!!

Thank you to whomever shared with Mel for Lost and Found that I am celebrating my birthday this week and encouraging people to come over here and have some cake with me! 🙂 Please do eat some cake, cookies and/or ice cream if you are so inclined in celebration of my special day! I will likely be having all of the above today and/or in the days to come while celebrating with family and friends!

It is bittersweet to think about where I was at this time last year on my birthday. I was pregnant and thus Molly was still with us here on earth. I do find comfort believing that she is healed and at peace in Heaven now. I feel blessed and lucky to be almost twelve weeks pregnant, with what so far seems to be a healthy baby, on my birthday this year. I wouldn’t not have believed you if you told me back then where I would be right now. I am extremely grateful to have such awesome family and friends in my life, especially my husband Bob, our son Sean, our daughter Molly in Heaven and our new baby growing inside of me. Thank you for your continuing to walk with me on this journey and for your support, encouragement, thoughts and prayers.

I leave you with the lyrics to one of my favorite songs by folk singer Anne Hills called Enough. I listen to it often and ponder the words as a sort of meditation about how I try to approach my life each day.

Today let me eat.
Today let me breathe.
Today let me speak with a friend.
Today let the sun shine down on my head
till moonlight shines on me again.

Today let me hum.
Today let me run,
the spinning earth under my feet.
And let me hold loosely the dream of my life
to welcome the changes I meet.

It’s enough to live and I’m grateful.
It’s enough to live.
It’s enough.
It’s enough to live.
Hmmm, enough.

Today let me see, not just with my eyes
and make my mistakes without shame.
Today let my heart beat steady and strong
and death not come calling my name.

Today let me love.
Today let me laugh,
remembering where I have been.
Today if I weep, still let me find peace
to keep with me till journey’s end.

It’s enough to live, it’s enough.
It’s enough to live.
Hmmm, enough.

In this next year of my life I hope to remember how precious life is and cherish each day that I am blessed to live on this earth.

Lastly, I share my birthday with a very special baby boy named Devin who was born still on this day last year. Please send some healing thoughts and prayers to Devin’s parents Natalie and Den today.