Thursday, February 07, 2008
MY BIRTHDAY!!
Well, the subject says it all, I guess! I'm very excited as it's my birthday today.
I've always been excited about birthdays. I can remember counting down the days, as soon as we went back to school after Christmas.
And, as always on this day of the year I've been reflecting on the past 27 birthdays (one year nearer to 30 :o( ) Obviously, I can't remember them all, and you'd be bored reading about them all. But, one or two stand out for me. When I was growing up, we collected for self-denial (annual Salvation Army door-to-door collection) the 1st 2 weeks in February, which usually impacted on my party in some way, either having it at the weekend, or early enough after school for mum and dad to go out collecting later. I can think about: a my little pony birthday cake, sleep-overs, swimming, McDonalds, big parties, small family meals, parties at the hall, a party at a hotel, weekends away, birthdays where I went to music practices, guides, brownies, Sunday meetings (YP Annual -Sunday School prizegiving one year), a surprise visit from mum and dad a few years ago, snow, coughs and colds, people who have birthdays near mine, pancake day one year... and lots more if I sat for longer!
But, one year stands out for me. I think I must have had a party a different day with my friends, but on my birthday I was going out with mum and dad for tea. But, just before we were going to go out, they had a phone call from someone needing some help, as they had no money for electricity (on a meter I assume), and I spent half an hour of my birthday sitting in the car waiting for them to sort this family out. And as I sit and reflect on that day now, I wonder what I would do now, if it was one of my kids' birthdays? Where are my priorities, would I for that one day of the year put them first, and should I? I wouldn't like to be sitting here years later (I think it was my 12th birthday?) wondering what happened to the family if my mum and dad had said they were too busy. Nearly every day in officership there's a choice to be made about the best use of my time, and factors of corps, community and family all come into that. Most of the time we make what we feel is the right decision at the time. I don't agree with putting family before the corps (shoot me down on this one if you want), but there has to be a level of balance, of give and take, between all the things God has called me to: wife, mother, officer, friend, daughter, etc.
If you're looking for more thoughts on this, as a woman in ministry, I'd recommend 'Seasons' by JoAnn Shade. You can get it at SP&S.
Well, time to get dressed. I joined a facebook group a few weeks ago called 'petition for a day off for your birthday'. I'll not be getting a day off, as we're going away tomorrow for the weekend. But today will be as relaxing as I can let it be.
I've always been excited about birthdays. I can remember counting down the days, as soon as we went back to school after Christmas.
And, as always on this day of the year I've been reflecting on the past 27 birthdays (one year nearer to 30 :o( ) Obviously, I can't remember them all, and you'd be bored reading about them all. But, one or two stand out for me. When I was growing up, we collected for self-denial (annual Salvation Army door-to-door collection) the 1st 2 weeks in February, which usually impacted on my party in some way, either having it at the weekend, or early enough after school for mum and dad to go out collecting later. I can think about: a my little pony birthday cake, sleep-overs, swimming, McDonalds, big parties, small family meals, parties at the hall, a party at a hotel, weekends away, birthdays where I went to music practices, guides, brownies, Sunday meetings (YP Annual -Sunday School prizegiving one year), a surprise visit from mum and dad a few years ago, snow, coughs and colds, people who have birthdays near mine, pancake day one year... and lots more if I sat for longer!
But, one year stands out for me. I think I must have had a party a different day with my friends, but on my birthday I was going out with mum and dad for tea. But, just before we were going to go out, they had a phone call from someone needing some help, as they had no money for electricity (on a meter I assume), and I spent half an hour of my birthday sitting in the car waiting for them to sort this family out. And as I sit and reflect on that day now, I wonder what I would do now, if it was one of my kids' birthdays? Where are my priorities, would I for that one day of the year put them first, and should I? I wouldn't like to be sitting here years later (I think it was my 12th birthday?) wondering what happened to the family if my mum and dad had said they were too busy. Nearly every day in officership there's a choice to be made about the best use of my time, and factors of corps, community and family all come into that. Most of the time we make what we feel is the right decision at the time. I don't agree with putting family before the corps (shoot me down on this one if you want), but there has to be a level of balance, of give and take, between all the things God has called me to: wife, mother, officer, friend, daughter, etc.
If you're looking for more thoughts on this, as a woman in ministry, I'd recommend 'Seasons' by JoAnn Shade. You can get it at SP&S.
Well, time to get dressed. I joined a facebook group a few weeks ago called 'petition for a day off for your birthday'. I'll not be getting a day off, as we're going away tomorrow for the weekend. But today will be as relaxing as I can let it be.
# posted by Tracy @ 9:04 am 
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Happy Birthday Tracy. Hope you have been able to relax a little on your special day! Have a good weekend. Love to all, Sask x
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Tracy
Happy birthday to you
You need a good imagination as I'm singing it right now and Pauline thinks I've gone daft.
Hope you've had a good 'un
By the way Anna had twin girls Saturday 1 pm .... 5lb 3.5 and 5lb 15.5 ..... all goin well a the moment ...... Lexi (Alexa) and Cardi (Cardigan ..... Welsh for Catherine)
God Bless
Petros
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Tracy
Happy birthday to you
You need a good imagination as I'm singing it right now and Pauline thinks I've gone daft.
Hope you've had a good 'un
By the way Anna had twin girls Saturday 1 pm .... 5lb 3.5 and 5lb 15.5 ..... all goin well a the moment ...... Lexi (Alexa) and Cardi (Cardigan ..... Welsh for Catherine)
God Bless
Petros
Thanks to you all. Pete -I can imagine you sitting in your lounge singing at the computer yesterday! I had a good day, we're off to Aviemore today for the weekend. Please pass on our congratulations to Anna & Les (how many weeks was she?)
Tracy
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Tracy
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