My 37th Birthday

37 years ago, at 3:51 AM, I was born. I was a very tiny 5 pounds, ten ounces. I'm the second child out of four, and the only daughter.

Two years later, my brother Brian was born. Happy birthday to you too, Brian! My grandma took me to the hospital to see my mom on my birthday. At that time, children weren't allowed to visit, so my grandma and I stood on the sidewalk. My mom opened the window of her hospital room and waved to me, and shouted, "Happy Birthday". The nurse yelled at her.




I never did get "big". I'm still less than five feet tall. Four foot eleven and three quarters of an inch to be exact.

My dad's birthday is October 10th. Twenty years ago, on my dad's birthday, I was working in a small restaurant. Unbeknownst to me, my husband had seen me working there, and told his friend that he was going to marry me. His cousin worked at the restaurant too. The evening was slow, and I left the ice cream stand, went to the dining room to chat with the waitresses. As I approached the booth they were sitting in, Verne was sitting there too. I asked, "Do you all mind if I sit down?"

Verne said, "Actually, yes."

"Fine." I turned, and went back out to the ice cream stand.
By the time I got back out there, he was standing outside the window. He apologized, and said that he was just joking.

I went about cleaning up, but he kept talking to me. For the two hours until we closed, he stood in the cold. He asked when I would be working again and he came back the next night.

He asked me out after several hours of talking again.

Our first date was on my 17 th birthday, twenty years ago today. He bought me a gold necklace with a small gold heart on it. We went out to dinner, and I asked him if he would mind if we went back to my house because my grandparents were there. Up until that time, I had seen my grandparents on every birthday. He didn't mind.

We went home, and played games with my family. I knew he was a keeper!



Five months later, we were engaged. I was a senior in high school, and was engaged before my senior prom.

Here we are, twenty years later. We've been married for 18 of those years. We have four children here with us, and one in heaven.

Grandma now lives in our home. I'm still with her on my birthday! (0:

I remember my first birthday party. I was 21, and Verne arranged a surprise party. It was wonderful!

I remember my first birthday without Brian. We always loved celebrating together. I was 22, he was 20. I was pregnant with my second child, and he was in the Air Force. I went to my parent's house and he called home while I was there. I cried. I told him that I wasn't even having cake that year. He said that he wasn't either, but was going to have some chocolate pudding. My mom made me some chocolate pudding, too.

I love that my children and my husband get so excited over my birthday. Everyone tries to make it a special day for me.

This year, I'm eating low carb. Abigail asked me if I would splurge and eat cake. I said that I wouldn't, and she said that she didn't want to eat cake either. Then she got an idea. She asked me if she could do some research on the computer because she wanted to find a low carb cake recipe. We sat down together Sunday afternoon, and guess what? We DID find a recipe! I tried it out that evening, and it's GOOD! I get to have cake! Thanks Abigail!

Verne was supposed to have Jury duty today, so he changed his work schedule around. When he called the information line, the trial was put off. He has the entire day to celebrate with me.
I think that we are going to the antique stores again. Different ones this time.

Supper will be pork roast, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes. Mmmmm....

I baked a spice cake for everyone else to enjoy, and Mac and I will eat our low carb chocolate version. It's nice to have a buddy! (0;

I'm so thankful for the many years that God has granted to me. I'm thankful for my husband and my children and the joy that they bring to me. I'm thankful for my friends, new and old, and for our church family. I'm thankful for my health. And most of all, I'm thankful for my Savior, Jesus.

Even though I am blessed, it's easy to get discouraged from day to day. As I see the world around me, and the sin, and evil ways, I worry. What will the world be like for my grandchildren? As I turn 37, I have set a goal to memorize the 37 th Psalm this year. As I read it, it brings me comfort. I don't need to worry. God is in control, and He is always good.

Psalm 37 (English Standard Version)

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.

12The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him,
13but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.

14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
15their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.

16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the LORD⁾ upholds the righteous.

18The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.

20But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

21The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
22for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

23The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the LORD upholds his hand.

25I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.

32The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33The LORD will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.

37Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39⁾ The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.