Monday, September 5

It's my party and I'll sing if I want to

Okay, I didn't actually sing at my party. Not much, anyway. But we did watch a clip from the Eagles' Farewell Tour, and it's really hard for me not to sing backup on "Hotel California."

A party? Well, a small one. A dinner party. That's what my husband threw for me last night. To celebrate today's event--my 48th birthday.

I didn't have my camera out last night, but here's a quick photo I snapped of myself today:


If I had to sum up my feelings about my year as a 47-year-old, I'd probably say that I'm tired but happy.

A friend asked me if there was a particular moment I remember from this past year. I told her that the moment that Dr. Hughes came out to the waiting room to tell me that my husband's open-heart surgery went well ranked pretty high on the list.

And I was asked to join the Renovare' Ministry Team and Board. And my oldest son is halfway finished with college at Duke. And my middle son graduated from high school and started college at UNC-Chapel Hill. And my youngest son started high school.

And I've had a great time getting to know so many people through the wonderful world of blogging! What a blessing!

Now, I'll ask you: If you had to pick a highlight from the past year in your life, what would you say? Please leave a comment and let me know!

34 comments:

  1. okay, number one, you don't look 48! and, congratulations on those boys! awesome schools. too bad they are intense rivals, huh? the highlight of my year? beach trip with my whole family - 21 of us!

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  2. You look fabulous! Really. You must know that you do!
    My highlight of this past year was taking my family on a three week tour of the Southwest United States. Getting to experience God's amazing world with them is always a blessing!

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  3. Hope you had a wonderful birthday! We are the same age, I turned 48 in June.
    be blessed,
    Regina

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  4. Happy Birthday, Richella! I'm so glad I came to visit and saw this post first. You do not look 48 - you don't even look 40! I'll be 48, myself, next month. I've had a few highlights this year, but I guess I've really enjoyed all the time I've gotten to spend with my granddaughter {who turned 1 this year!}.

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  5. Happy Birthday Richella! I agree with Kendal...you do not look 48.

    Yes, I know you are so thankful that your hubby came through his surgery...and I thank the Lord along with you concerning his recovery.

    Your boys are really growing up...and I know you are very proud of them.

    A year ago yesterday one of my best friends lost her husband to cancer. I am so thankful that my friend and her two girls and their families are doing ok...and that the Lord is bringing them through their sorrows. We loved him too and God has been good to bring to mind so many wonderful memories we spent with him.

    The other highlights have been our monthly family get-togethers as we celebrated birthdays and holidays, and the graduations of two granddaughters...and last week we witnessed two of our grandson's baptisms. God is good all the time. And we praise him for His goodness to us.

    I too am thankful for all of my blogging friends...and for you Richella.

    Love, Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

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  6. Happy Birthday! You are so beautiful - inside and out - and do not look 48! I'll be 60 in November but still feel young inside! :) That's what counts, well as long as we can think and move! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  7. Happy Birthday, Richella!! I still think you're fibbing about your age and added 10 years. ;) I can't pick a highlight...I had a pretty good year. :)

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  8. Happy Birthday! You are the youngest looking 48 year old I've ever seen.

    Your 47th year gave you a lot for which to be thankful.

    The highlight of my year has been the all of the time that we've spent at the lake this summer.

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  9. I agree with Amanda- you are fibbing for sure! Happy birthday!! Just so you know...I gotta sing some Hotel California too, so you are not alone!

    For me, it's been a rough year, but every sweet moment has counted-every conversation with my mom, every time Mr. Sahm holds my hand, every moment of fun with my kids. These moments are so mundane, and so wonderful.

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  10. Happy birthday! I would never guess you're 48. The highlight of my year was my recent trip to WV to visit my birth mother and step-siblings (two of whom I haven't seen in almost 40 years!).

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  11. I thought it was worth noting that if you turned 48, you just finished your 48th year.

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  12. Happy Birthday. Your list of special year events is great. One of my best year events was moving to the state where our daughters live and enjoying time together AND my dad's successful open heart surgery.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  13. Anonymous friend--you're absolutely right! Yikes! I just finished my 48th year! Oh boy.

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  14. happy birthday to YOU! i'm glad you had a little party :) a memory? from this past year? hmmm... finishing my africa scrapbook.

    love to you :)

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  15. You are worth celebrating!!! Happy birthday, dear bloggy friend! By the way, you are radiant!

    My big moment of the year was watching my 2 daughters get baptized. A day of grace imparted.

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  16. Happy Birthday, Richella! I LOVE birthdays and I'm so glad you got to celebrate your special day. You've had a pretty crazy year!

    My best memories? My son taking his first steps after 8 months of physical therapy and my daughter's absolute joy every single moment that we spent at the beach in June. :)

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  17. Happy Birthday sweet girl, I am so glad I found your blog and am getting to know you more this year. You don't look 48 (and I don't think I do too) ;) I can't think of a highlight from this year yet, hmmm, I'll have to think of that before I turn 48 next month :)

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  18. Oh HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You look absolutely gorgeous and way too young to be celebrating 48! The way you live your life is a blessing and inspiration to all who know you...even those of us who only "know" you through this crazy blog thing. LOL!
    Vanessa

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  19. Happy Birthday, Richella! I hope you had a great day celebrating. It's so hard to think of one highlight, I have had so many but I loved being in Montana for the summer. It was beautiful and I got to see most of my family, and of course made some great memories with my girls and husband. Happy 48th!

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  20. Happy Birthday! Singing it loud and proud to celebrate your day!

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  21. There is NO WAY you can be 48 b/c you look Ah-MaZinG in that picture! Happy birthday! I don't have any highlight for this year yet but it will probably be hubby's & my forcasted date of when our credit debt is finally all paid off right before Christmas, I can't wait! :-D Blessings to you!

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  22. Wow!! I hope I look as good as you do when I turn 48!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I have 2 highlights this year.
    1) My oldest son transferring to Ucla to play football.
    2) My husband finding the strength from God to quit his job of 17 years in order to take a leap of faith & start his own company. We have seen God work in AMAZING ways now that we are COMPLETELY dependant on Him! He is FAITHFUL!

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  23. Happy Birthday! You look wonderful!

    It is always the little things that get me during the year. For example, last night I was speaking to my son over the phone about him purchasing a bicycle to ride on campus. It was a quick phone call and before he hung up, he said "I love you" FIRST! It gave me tingles inside out.

    Have a great week!

    Judy :)

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  24. Happy birthday! I wish you a wonderful 48th year!

    For me, this has been and continues to be a year of change. My husband lost his job and I was asked to appear on a new HGTV show on the same day this past June. There were definitely mixed emotions on that day for sure. Of course, the HGTV opportunity was a highlight, but as more time passes, I think Eric's job loss will be as well, as strange as that may sound. It has been sooo long since he has been able to spend any real time with the girls and I. This summer has been a time to get to know each other again. It's truly been a blessing.

    Take care,
    Lori
    www.lorimayinteriors.com/blog

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  25. I had a couple of highlights this year that come to me immediately, taking all my grandchildren and their parents to disneyland and getting to meet you Rachelle at the retreat in Colorado Springs and getting to visit at length. Happy Birthday and Is. 32:1 says"...a King will reign in righteousness,..and will be like a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest, like streams of water in a dry place,like the shade o a great rock in a weary land." I pray that for you! Mary A.

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  26. Happy Birthday! (and I'm a huge Eagles fan and you've got me singing Hotel California now - thanks). :)

    My highlight was giving birth to my first child on January 29th. I'm 35 and have PCOS and wasn't sure I'd ever see the day. Even though she was a week overdue, I was in labor for 23 hrs before we had to have a c-section, I would do it all again to hear that little cry when she first came out.

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  27. Happy Birthday!

    I would have to say the "family cruise" we took in February as well as my niece's wedding....Or maybe when my grandson said "Nana I wuv you"...I think my list could be quite long if I think about it!!

    Thanks for the kind words, too!

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  28. Happy Birthday (again!)! As much pain as my 41st year held, the sweetest moment for me would have to be momentS. Not even three weeks after Momma passed away, I was at Relevant. I will never forget how God refreshed my spirit. Oh, how He poured His love out on me that weekend! So wish you were going this year!

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  29. Great photo!! My highlight or lowlight in my case is that my hubby was very ill during this past year and passed away on Christmas Eve. I'm praying that 2012 will be a much better year and I will be able to feel life running through my veins again!! Happy 48th :)

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  30. Happy, happy, happy birthday (a few days late). You look so beautiful!!! You really should wrinkle or grow a few gray hairs so the rest of us don't feel so bad. Just joking (sort of).

    I'm sure that doctor telling you Jack surgery was THE BEST thing of the year. I think being on a weekend getaway with my Hubby on my 40th birthday was my highlight.

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  31. So sorry I'm a bit tardy with your birthday wishes ~ Happy Birthday, Richella! So thankful that you are able to celebrate with your dear husband....Blessings to you always, friend ~

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  32. Happy (belated) birthday! I agree with everyone that you look wonderful, but as someone who entered her 40s this year, I take exception to the feeling that you don't look 48!;) Does that mean that 48 is old, and should look gray and wrinkly? I beg to differ! You look wonderful, period. Not just "good for your age". :)

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  33. Happy LATE Birthday! I still can't get over how fantastic you look..I would never, ever guess that you are 48! I hope the dinner party was wonderful..what a year you have had! I am so glad you were born, Richella! xoxo

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  34. I'm late to the party but never too late to wish you a wonderful birthday and listen, I would love to be 48 again!! You look so beautiful and make wise use of your time because it goes so quickly!! You know that, of course!

    You are a refreshing lovely lady Richella! Enjoy many more happy days to come!!

    Blessings!

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