August, Sweet August...and...Turning 55....and....No Regrets!

I ♥love♥ the month of August....it's the month I was born! Yeah, a little prejudiced about the eigth month of the year. Just a little! My birthday falls almost smack-dab in the middle of it and, this year, I turned 55. Half a century plus five. Wow, there are days I feel at least that old (and then some!) and others, in my mind, I'm still back in my 20's and 30's!

I celebrated by doing a little shopping and then being treated by my friend Pam to dinner at a local Chinese restaurant, China Wok. She was such a trooper as she tried my favorite Chinese dishes....Mongolian Beef and Hot and Sour Soup! Mongolian beef brings back many happy memories of time with friends in GA when we would go to the local Sun Garden restaurant. Good food and good friends and good conversation....all great things!♥

 Instead of cake, I opted to have cheesecake (and chocolate cheesecake, to boot!) for my birthday. I'd thought about rhubarb pie, but wasn't able to find any rhubarb, so.....cheesecake, it was!  Pam and I sat on my living room floor and talked and laughed and played with Cady. Simple things often have a way of making one smile and good times with a great friend is one of those life pleasures I truly treasure and enjoy! It was a great day....and I had a ton of Facebook birthday wishes that just made my day!♥

I've been thinking lately about "if-I-had-known-then-what-I-know-now", what would have I done differently? What I had no way of knowing then is that I would develop the interests and skills I have now. If I had, I would have taken business classes, gone to business school and then to culinary school, or at least taken cooking classes. But that's not how life went. But....ya know what? No regrets.

I believe God orchestrates our lives, has full control over everything but allows us to make decisions along the way that will shape who we become. I'd have loved to have married, been a wife and mom, raised at least half a dozen kids. Instead, I'm single (and OK with it!) an aunt to 14, a great aunt to 3, and have numerous "children" around the world that I've had the awesome privilege of playing an important role in their lives. That singleness allowed me to move to GA for ten years, allowed me to travel to other countries and witness God at work. No regrets.

Over the 55 years, I have found that I can be alone but not lonely. And yet while I am alone, I'm not truly alone as God is with me. I am in a season right now where I really don't know what God is up to and it's probably just as well I don't have a clue. I'm trusting that He has a reason and a purpose in where I am, what I'm doing and if I hold on tight to His hand, He will walk me through everything that comes my way. No regrets!

My friend Pam and I were sharing with each other yesterday over the phone, encouraging one another with the Word of God and it was a great time of fellowship.  I am especially encouraged, even today, by parts of Philippians 4:

 ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 ¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

 ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

I cling to His Word, trusting He has brought me this far and He will continue to walk with me as I seek to follow after Him! I pray this encourages your heart today as much as it has mine! May you be blessed beyond measure....now and always!