Birthday Blessings!

WOW!  Thanks for the many birthday wishes.  I love birthdays and hearing from friends and family!

I am writing tonight from Newport Beach.  I came here to celebrate a very special time with my daughter and her friends last night.  I am so proud of her!  Her great friend from KC (Kansas City) came in for the party, and it was like old home week.  She and Alicia became friends in high school and spent many days and dinners at our house.  I love this girl– well, both girls of course!  I so appreciate Alicia inviting me to her special celebration.

We met for breakfast this morning, after which they had an appointment in LA, and instead heading home to Vegas, I went to the beach.  It was a perfect way to spend my birthday!  A time of reflection, prayer, and rest.  Yes… Rest!  I didn’t even feel guilty-Amazing!

How about you?  When you have moments when you just let down, aren’t doing anything, do you feel guilty?  Feel like you SHOULD be doing something?  Let’s agree to release those thoughts.  Think about it– God rested, and we think we don’t need to rest?  It doesn’t make much sense does it?

Back to today. The beach was not crowded, just a few people here and there.  I had a blanket in the back of the car, so took my blanket, book, and a notepad.

A funny little story.  Just before I left Las Vegas to head to Newport, I noticed our two sport chairs in the garage.  I’m not sure if that is their official name, but you know the ones I mean, they fold up into a bag and you carry them over your shoulder.  Perfect for sport events, parades, and the beach.  Well, I looked at them and thought to myself, maybe I should take one, but no, I thought, “I probably won’t take the time to go to the beach.”
Although I felt this slight urging in my spirit to take one anyway, I just shrugged it off.

What makes it funny to me is that when I was getting ready to leave today after breakfast and head back to Vegas, I felt the same nudge to go to the beach.  That may sound a little crazy, but our God loves us, wants us to rest, to enjoy, and be still so we can listen.  That’s how it was for me today.  I listened.  It was a special appointed day for me.  So I went to the beach. Now, if I had listened and put that chair in the car, I would have been even more comfortable.   Although I must admit it’s a little hard to imagine a better day.

Here are a few of my thoughts as I looked out at the ocean…. slightly random but connected.

Looking at the ocean, watching the waves,
Flowing in and out.

Peaceful, powerful, so beautiful,
Makes me want to shout.

Little boy running into the water
Then quickly running back.

The pigeons walking all over the sand
Looking for a snack

The flag on the pier is waving gently,
Flowing in the breeze.

And me – I’m watching and enjoying
Grateful, joyful, blessed

Blessings to you all- 

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