Friday, May 15, 2009

Ssshhh! Don't Tell My Secret! I have a gift for you!

It is my birthday!
It really is!
And you know several years ago, (oops only last year when I was 27 *wink*) I decided that I would enjoy every birthday that I had.
I mean enjoy the fact that I'd had another year to learn and hopefully mature and achieve a purpose greater than myself.
The ebb and flow of life is sometimes joyful and other times heart wrenching, but still I can celebrate each and every day and birthday as it rolls around again and again. And when I no longer have birthdays,
I plan for my life to have been lived to the best of my ability...shortcomings, flaws, mistakes and all...the best I can do.
I was blessed to be born into a family of 10, the youngest.
As a baby girl, I rounded out the number with 5 boys and 5 girls. Now that I read how that previous sentence sounds, I laugh. I still round out the number with 5 boys and 5 girls...even though I'm an adult! Can't change that fact!
My parents who are no longer living gave me the wonderful gift of life, and I absoluuuuutely do not take it for granted.
I've received cards, emails, blog comments, text messages, messages on my face book wall, voice mail messages, phone calls and hugs and well wishes. Ah, the grandeur of modern technology. With a family as big as mine, and friends that I love so much, I cannot thank you enough for wishing me a happy day!
But most of all sweet blog readers, this blog posting is all about you, not me.
Since it is my birthday, I just wanted to send off a little gift to let you know how much you mean to me.
When I return on Monday, I will announce the winner of this truly vintage apron.
So leave a comment on this posting and your name will be entered into my birthday gift giveaway. One name will be chosen from the comments and I will send the apron to you right away. Just be sure and leave a way to be contacted if you don't have a blog.
And so, I guess it really isn't appropriate to tell you to keep the secret that it is my birthday, since I just published that information to the whole wonderful world. Isn't that what www. stands for?
Yes, I've had a happy day, I planned for it to be no matter what. We had a hail storm full of thunder and lightning. It was breathtaking enjoying it from "our romantic back porch". I'll show you photos next week. But that is the way life is. You take it all. The good and the bad, the storms and the sunshine.
That's just the way it is.
So I will celebrate with joy.
Love, Rachel

P.S. You have until midnight on Sunday to leave a comment and be entered into the drawing.

39 comments:

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

Happy birthday, sweet Rachel! What a lovely post, it's such a blessing to have birthdays and just wake up each morning to face another wonderful day. All the bestest wishes in this wonderful world to you my dear friend!
ML, Tracie

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

PS ~ Love the photo of you!

Claudia said...

Happy Birthday, darling Rachel! You look beautiful with that cake! I love what you wrote about birthdays - they should be joyful. That's something for me to remember as I travel through mid-life!

Julie said...

Happy Birthday ! This is my first visit to your blog and it won't be my last-I am now a follower! Have a
lovely weekend

my contact is: aunteegem@yahoo.com

thanks!

pse said...

Are you really already 27? Oh my, how time does fly!

This is my fourth time to wish you a happy birthday today. That should count for something!

Love you "young" sister!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Rachel,
Happy Birthday! I'm so glad you're having a wonderful day and that you appreciate all the Lord has blessed you with. Your light shines through your blog. I pray today is the beginning of a truly wonderful year!

Blessings & hugs,
Sandi

Terry said...

God Bless you Rachel on your birthday,SHHHHHH ! Don't forget it's a secret :)
May you be as blessed as the blessing you are .
I love to visit your blog it makes one feel loved on from the moment you arrive here.
You certainly have a natural gift for hospitality.
I would venture to say you have many talents as beautiful as your blog is.
The Apron giveaway is such a sweet Idea.
Thank you for your generosity on your special day.Birhdays are so much fun.
Have a weekend filled with love,joy and endless happy moments.
Blessings wiht hugs.

Karla Cook @ Roads to Everywhere said...

Okay. Okay. For the THIRD time... "Happy Birthday!!!" But... just because I need to win that most beautimous apron, dontcha know?

savvycityfarmer said...

oh you are such a dear....Happy happy birthday

I am so sad. This time of year finds me in the garden and out of doors!!!

I am TRYING to get to our regular visits.
am sending a blanket statement to all of my "girls"...this is what time allows for now

will you please forgive me???

Old Centennial Farmhouse said...

What a beautiful apron! And happy birthday, Rachel! I love your way of celebrating! Hope this next year is wonderful!
XOXO
Joni

Feedsack Fantasy said...

What a sweet way to celebrate your birthday ... thank you for sharing, Rachel.

Beautiful post.
TTFN ~ Marydon

Anonymous said...

Rachel I hope I am not to late to wish you a very happy Birthday!

I think we appreciate birthday the older we get- more blessing to be thankful for- more memories to cherish- Life is good!!

I would love to win your sweet birthday gift apron!!

blessings
mary

Mom Going said...

Happy Birthday again, Rachel. I enjoyed talking to you awhile ago. I'm glad you had a good busy day. Give the little princess a hug from Grandma.

THE HOME THAT LOVE BUILT said...

Happy birthday Rachel! You look simply lovely in your picture and I know all of your family is very proud of you.



Blessings,
Brook

Eclectic Chic Style said...

Happy Happy Birthday to you!!! Great pic and love the cake too!
♥ Teresa

FrancisMoore said...

Happy Birthday dear Christian friend. You don't look a day over 27. Francis Moore

Hattie said...

Rachel,
Your blog inspires me. You said exactly how I feel about birthdays.

Please enter me in. The vintage apron is sooo pretty.
Hattie......
tligon1@bellsouth.net

Hollace said...

I just had my birthday, too. Life is good at every age.

Pink Princess said...

Happy Birthday! WOW it sounds like a wonderful one too. And love the fact that you are one of 10 children!!

Hugs from Marian, and oh please enter me in the give away too ♥

Kathi said...

Happy Birthday Dear Rachel. What a wonderful way to look at birthdays. I too, want to praise the Lord for my life and His gift to me. Enjoy your day. Kathi

SentimentsbyDenise said...

I'm one who left you a Facebook wall post with birthday wishes! I truly hope your day was wonderful and memorable - you deserve it!
This apron is gorgeous! I would love to receive this! I've been doing more homemaking more now that I'm only working part time, so I've been thinking about aprons - whether to make one for myself (Ed's barbeque apron just isn't appropriate for my daily wear, me thinks!).
Thanks for sharing your life with us, Rachel. You are loved!

Esther said...

You can only imagine the joy I felt when Daddy walked in that next morning and said, "Well, the girls have caught up with the boys!" I was SOOOOO happy to have a little sister! And I'm soooo happy that it is YOU!!!

Love you bunches!
Esther

Mindy said...

I was going to say "Happy Birthday" even before I saw there was a gift. So Happy Birthday to you! Hope today turns out great!

Ronda said...

Hope that your birthday was as special as YOU are! You truly have one of the biggest hearts in the world! Have fun being "28"!(Hey...how old does that make ME???) :)
What a sweet post and beautiful vintage apron...fun, fun!

BeeCee said...

Happy Birthday to You!!
I read your blog every day, but hae never commented. I absolutely love vintage aprons & this one is no exception!

Rebecca Nelson said...

Dear NazGal...

Happy Birthday...I love the photo of YOU!

I'm so thankful for you that your life is full and that growing older is a blessing.

You inspire me.

xoRebecca

English Cottage in Georgia said...

So many comments, I almost became a lurker. However 1) Happy belated Birthday, 2) How wonderful to have so many siblings. Although compared to your family, our family of 7 seems small, but I love the experiences provided from a large family. AND 3) your apron is very lovely. You are very generous to a lucky blogger.

Pink Slippers said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
LOVE pictures.
Wendy

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU my friend! Enjoy every single moment!
Hugs,
Mona

Rue said...

Happy Birthday Rachel!! I'm so glad you had a wonderful day, because you deserve it :)

(((hugs)))
rue

Alicia The Snowflake said...

I came from Karla's blog to wish you a Happy Birthday. I'm a couple of days late ;) But it sounds like you had a great one. I love your attitude about birthdays. They should be celebrated. Thanks for that reminder. And yes, I would love to be entered to win the apron. It's beautiful!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Wow! Giving away a gift on your own birthday. You're one of a kind. I wish you a happy, happy birthday. You always see the glass as half full.
Brenda

KEITH said...

HI RACHEL,HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN. I TOO REMEMBER DADDY SAYING THE GIRLS CAUGHT UP WITH THE BOYS. IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY, AND I CANT BELIEVE 27 YEARS HAVE GONE BY. I AM SO BLESSED TO BE ONE OF THE 5 BROTHERS. KEITH

Unknown said...

Happy Belated Birthday! What a lovely heart you have. Thanks for sharing those beautiful thoughts! You're a blessing to blogland, dear Rachel! Love ya! :)

Anonymous said...

Can't pass up the chance to wish you a happy birthday and tell you what a charming celebration and giveaway for the apron. I'm late, it's Monday, but Happy Birthday.

Jody

visionquest2020@msn.com

KEITH said...

HI RACHEL, I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHO WILL WIN THAT APRON. WHO EVER DOES WILL TREASURE IT FOR SURE. KEITH

Kathryn Bechen said...

Hi Rachel,

Happy Belated Birthday!

Bless you, Kathryn

addicted to life said...

happy birthday!
that post is full ot truth and passion!

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