It hardly seems possible...

that I've been keeping this blog for over a year. I have written more than 125 entries so far. I've loved doing this, living this topsy-turvy, exhausting, exhilirating life and then being able to share my insights and observations with such dear and supportive friends. War, tsunami, death, disease, travel, a new puppy, movies, books, WalMart, and so many other great and small, major and minor, worldly and Godly topics have found their way into my ramblings. Thanks to all of you who have read and enjoyed my words, who have commented and remained silent, who have been part of my life as I travel this journey. Thank you.

It hardly seems possible that tomorrow we will celebrate the 12th birthday of my wonderful and beautiful daughter, Kristiana. She's nearly as tall as I am. We share shoes, shirts, belts, jewelry, as well as a love for reading, journaling, drinking tea, and watching home makeover shows. She's one of my dearest friends and one of the best gifts God has given to me.

It hardly seems possible that my body produced two other human beings, separate individuals that are walking this planet with hearts and souls of their very own. They are bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, heart of my own heart. I am blessed beyond measure to have these two children, these dear friends, these sneaky cohorts in my plot to find as many reasons to laugh as possible and find as much joy as possible in a world that seems determined to stifle all the laughter and kill all the joy.

It hardly seems possible that this is my life.
But it is possible.
This is my life.

For my husband,
for my daughter,
for my son,
for our home,
for our family,
for our friends and neighbors,
for coffee and tea, scones and cookies,
for birthday cake and ice cream,
for mother-daughter days at the mall and getting our hair done,
for "buy-one, get-one free" sales,
for warm robes and cozy slippers,
for Canadian ice wine and port,
for milk chocolate pecan turtles and chocolate covered almonds,
for the color red,
for rubber stamps and fine point Uniball markers,
for incense and scented candles,
for the doubts and the questions,
for the hopes and the dreams,
for all whom I have known and loved in this life thus far,
and for all that is still to come,
I am grateful.

Here's to life, love, laughter, and all that is beautiful.
Happy Birthday, Kristiana!