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In Praise of Life

October 2, 2010 by Minnesota Mom Filed Under: Gratitude, Minnesota Me, Special Events 59 Comments


Today is my birthday. I am 44 years old.

(The photo on the right isn’t current.)

Wow! Can it be? I mean, I totally remember being 43! And 33…and 23…and…

Well, the old memory gets a little blurry at that point.

Birthday posts are kind of tricky. On the one hand, I’m the one who’s posting this; I’m the one saying, hey, look at me! It’s my special day today!

(Not that I’m not thrilled about it. On the contrary, I plan to whoop it up.)

Yet, to not acknowledge that it’s your birthday…

To hide one’s face…

To turn away…

…is to miss out on the chance to give a great big cheer for this amazing gift that is our life. It’s my birthday! I’m 44 years old!

Oh my goodness. Thank you, Lord.

Thank you for my mom and dad, those amazing two who gave me life.

Mom & Dad II

Thank you for my sisters and brother. I wouldn’t be me without their love.

The Fam

Thank you, Lord, for this sweet man:

John (redo)

And also all these children:

The Kids

I would certainly not be me without them. In them I haven’t lost my identity; rather, I have found it.

And finally, thank you dear Lord for friends old and new—a list too extensive to go into here, but I sure hope that you all know who you are. I thank God for you, and pray that you know what you mean to my family.

Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
From all my terrors he set me free.

–Psalm 34

With love & blessings & joy & thanksgiving,

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Comments

  1. Mum2eight says

    October 2, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    Hey Margaret. Happy Birthday. You were born a day after me. I turned 44 on October 1st.

    Reply
  2. Faith says

    October 2, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    Happy birthday, young 'un! I can say that because I'm 6 years older!

    Hope you have a wonderful day!

    I loved looking at all the pictures of your family. What blessings!

    Reply
  3. Jennie C. says

    October 2, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    Happy birthday, Maggie. 🙂 And that old picture of you? It could be one of your daughters!

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    October 2, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    A very Happy Birthday to you!!! and many more to come!!!! 🙂
    signed
    Theresa in Alberta

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    You say it's your birthday
    You're gonna have a good time
    I'm glad it's your birthday
    Happy birthday to you.

    (HT: The Beatles)

    Praying for you in a special way today.

    Michelle

    Reply
  6. Sheila says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Happy Birthday! You are a whopping 10 days older than I am! 🙂 I hope your day and year are blessed by God's presence and grace.

    Reply
  7. Michelle says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    Happy birthday! Fourteen days until my anniversary. Nineteen days until my birthday. October is a fab-tab-u-lous month, don't you agree?

    Reply
  8. Lisa says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:14 pm

    Happy Birthday!! Hope you get to do something to really enjoy the day.

    Reply
  9. Ellen says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Happy Birthday Margaret. Hope your day is full of fun.

    Reply
  10. Charlotte (Waltzing Matilda) says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    Happy Birthday!!! That first picture is just precious and makes it easy to see the genetic markers you shared with your children. God bless you today. I know birthday posts feel weird to post but it is a gift you have given us… the opportunity to show you how much we love you!

    Reply
  11. Laura says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    Happy Birthday and may you have a very blessed year!

    Reply
  12. scmom (Barbara) says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:26 pm

    Wishing you a multitude of blessings today. Happy, happy Birthday, dear friend! Prayers for your intentions all day!

    Reply
  13. Karen E. says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:31 pm

    "(The photo on the right isn’t current.)"

    But admit it, Mags — you still wear that jaunty hat.

    Happy, happy day! Hope it's wonderful!

    Reply
  14. Joy Beyond the Cross says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    Happy Birthday Margaret! I hopey you have a blast!

    Reply
  15. Mrs. 2nd Lieutenant says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    Happy Birthday!!!! 🙂 Hope its a great one!

    and you know, I've always thought your daughters look like you, but wow! that picture! they could be your "mini-me"s :-p

    Reply
  16. Therese says

    October 2, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Happy Birthday! Have a blessed day and year!

    Reply
  17. Ruth says

    October 2, 2010 at 2:13 pm

    Happy birthday, dear Margaret. May God grant many blessings this day!

    Reply
  18. Sarah says

    October 2, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    Happy birthday to my favorite Minnesota Mom!! May your day be blessed!

    Reply
  19. Kristen Laurence says

    October 2, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    Happy Birthday, lovely Margaret!

    Reply
  20. Em says

    October 2, 2010 at 2:45 pm

    Happy Birthday!!!!!!! Love those pictures!
    I'm so glad to see someone who has a birthday philosophy like mine–wooo I'm another year older, what a fantastic gift of life I've got. 🙂
    Have a GREAT day-enjoy!

    Reply
  21. Kimberlee says

    October 2, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    Happy, happy birthday dear Margaret!!! Hope you have a wonderful day! whoop! whoop! whoop!

    Reply
  22. Beth says

    October 2, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    Happy Birthday!!!!!

    Reply
  23. Lori N from MN says

    October 2, 2010 at 4:12 pm

    Happy, Happy, Blessed Birthday dear Maggie!!!

    ENJOY YOUR DAY TO THE FULLEST!!

    Reply
  24. The Road Scholar says

    October 2, 2010 at 4:45 pm

    Happy birthday, dear friend! Enjoy your evening!

    Reply
  25. Mrs. Bubbles says

    October 2, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    Happy birthday, Margaret! I hope your day is splendid and blessed. I can see a lot of George in the picture of you as well! And I'm a big fan of the White Fang imitation- hilarious!

    Reply
  26. Sarah Oldham says

    October 2, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    Hau'oli La Hanau, Margaret! And many many more blessings!

    Reply
  27. Kate J says

    October 2, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you. (Happy Birthday to you!) ~Dr. Suess

    Reply
  28. Elizabeth C. says

    October 2, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    Happy Birthday Magaret! We all thank God for the gift of you.

    Have a lovely day…

    Reply
  29. Sara says

    October 2, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    Happy Birthday, Margaret! Whoop it up!

    Reply
  30. jenny says

    October 2, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Happy Birthday!

    I'm an off-and-on-again reader, and a Mama to 4 girls: 4-year-old twins, a 2.5-year old, and a 9-month old.

    You give me some hope to see what my life might be like in a few more years–thanks!

    Jenny

    Reply
  31. Hélène says

    October 2, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    Happy birthday, dearest Margaret. Thank you for making my day brighter each time I read a post of yours.

    Reply
  32. House of Brungardt says

    October 2, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    Happy Birthday, Margaret! My word is "wooshed," so I guess I'm wooshing you a happy day!

    Reply
  33. Cathy says

    October 2, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    Here's hoping you have the best of birthdays….. And I agree with your other readers – a couple of your sweet little ones look just like you – Wow!

    Reply
  34. Barbara says

    October 2, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    Congratulations! And I can SO see your daughters in your own little girl face.

    Reply
  35. Rebecca says

    October 2, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    Happiest of Birthdays to you, Margaret!

    Reply
  36. Anonymous says

    October 2, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    Happy Birthday! You haven't changed a bit. 🙂

    Jen in TX

    Reply
  37. Gail says

    October 2, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    Happy Happy Birthday! We are celebrating my son's fifth today, too. Gotta love an early autumn birthday.

    Reply
  38. JOYfilled Family says

    October 3, 2010 at 12:10 am

    have a blessed day and may you continue to celebrate life.
    pax -lena

    Reply
  39. Anonymous says

    October 3, 2010 at 12:38 am

    Happy Birthday Margaret! We are the same age, almost:) I'll be 44 on get this- October 10, that is 10/10/10! Whoo hoo. Here's to being '66 babies.

    JMB – can't sign in to google for some reason.

    Reply
  40. Sarah says

    October 3, 2010 at 12:56 am

    Happy birthday, Margaret! Wishing you a new year of life filled with faith, joy, love and abundant blessings.

    Reply
  41. Nikkadmus says

    October 3, 2010 at 1:33 am

    Happy Birthday!

    Reply
  42. Anna B. says

    October 3, 2010 at 2:06 am

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you had a great day..

    Reply
  43. The Sojourner says

    October 3, 2010 at 2:44 am

    Happy birthday!

    Reply
  44. Cheryl M. says

    October 3, 2010 at 2:57 am

    Happy Birthday, Dear Margaret! 🙂
    Hope your day was wonderful!

    Reply
  45. Marcie in Canada says

    October 3, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    Happy happy birthday dear Margaret. You are a gift to us all. Hope your day was wonderful.

    Reply
  46. lois in Indy says

    October 3, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    Happy Birthday! lois

    Reply
  47. momto5minnies says

    October 3, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    Hope you have a wonderful day!

    Love the line near the end … "I would certainly not be me without them. In them I haven't lost my identity; rather, I have found it." I think I needed to hear that.

    Reply
  48. LeAnn says

    October 3, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    Happy Belated Birthday! My husband's birthday was yesterday too, but he's MUCH older than you (he's 45). Mine is in a few weeks; I'll be 44 too. 1966 was a great year, wasn't it? Wishing you another year full of God's blessings!

    Reply
  49. Melanie B says

    October 4, 2010 at 1:18 am

    A very happy happy birthday. And wishing you many, many more years.

    Reply
  50. Lynn B says

    October 4, 2010 at 2:25 am

    Happy birthday to a great lady! Thank you for sharing that gift with the world – I am just behind you by a year or two, so I appreciate all the inspiration and encouragement. Hope 44 is wonderful for you 🙂

    Reply
  51. Courtney in Texas says

    October 4, 2010 at 11:31 am

    Beautifule, Margaret! you and your post! Happy, happy birthday.

    Reply
  52. Meredith says

    October 4, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    Hope it was an awesome day sweetie! Lovely tribute to YOU 🙂 And I'm still older than you so don't feel too bad about the number, hugs!!

    Reply
  53. Meredith says

    October 4, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    Hope it was an awesome day sweetie! Lovely tribute to YOU 🙂 And I'm still older than you so don't feel too bad about the number, hugs!!

    Reply
  54. Colleen says

    October 4, 2010 at 6:09 pm

    Happy Birthday to the youngest 44 year old I have ever seen 🙂

    Reply
  55. Jodi says

    October 4, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    Happy Birthday, Margaret! You look 34!

    Reply
  56. Kate says

    October 5, 2010 at 2:52 am

    Happy Birthday, beautiful Lady! I admire you so much, God has blessed me through your blog 🙂 I pray that you are filled with His blessings and graces today especially! Warm internet hugs, and a virtual glass of wine to go with it.

    Reply
  57. Suzie says

    October 5, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    Happy Birthday!

    Reply
  58. Kelly says

    October 5, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    Oh, my goodness! How in the heck did I miss this?! I'm three days late with this but I would like to wish you a very happy birthday anyway. May God bless you with many more!

    Reply
  59. Cynthia says

    October 15, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    Happy belated birthday. Hope you had a wonderful time. My birthday is in October, also. I celebrate all month. God bless you.

    Reply

Hi there!

I’m Margaret in Minnesota, and this is my mom's-eye perspective of a kid-heavy life. I love the Lord; I take lots of photos; and I always try to tell it like it is, from sex to depression and everything in between! I hope you enjoy your time here. ♥

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Hi there!

I’m Margaret in Minnesota, and this is my mom's-eye perspective of a kid-heavy life. I love the Lord; I take lots of photos; and I try to always tell it like it is, from sex to depression and everything in between! I hope you enjoy your time here. ♥

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