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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

BIRTHDAY MUSINGS...

Because time itself is a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.


-Menachem Mendel Schneerson-

(FREE PAPER ROSE TUTORIAL BY: Jeanne of Dream, Create, Inspire can be found here at Jolie Paquet I have been promising you a new tutorial on paper flowers but have been unable to deliver due to illness so I thought you might enjoy this wonderful substitute. These are a fast, fun, and easy embellishment! Great for using up those paper scraps too. I made a big bowl full. Thanks, Jeanne, for sharing such a great idea!)

As I passed by my fading birthday bouquet I noticed the rose petal confetti sprinkled across the table top. I gathered up the rich red velvet scraps into the palm of my hand noting their cool feel on my skin. I studied them, their aged elegance, some crinkling with dryness, others still soft and supple, marveling over their individual beauty apart from the whole of the rose.On impulse I lifted my cupped palm, burying my nose, inhaling deeply of their rich heady scent, pulling away to enjoy the ripe fragrance. I could not resist just one more sampling breath as the thought arose that I am certain that heaven must smell like this. Turning my palm I watched as rose petals rained back onto the tabletop, deciding in that moment, to leave them be.
I have been wondering much about individuality lately. Like, the petals of the rose who have loosed themselves from the constraints that often make them appear whole, as compared to a group of persons. It seems I have been straining against the collectiveness, desiring to break free, letting myself be a little bit scattered and imperfect. I would like, just once, to stand in awe and be amazed to experience a holy moment of being fully, wholly, and totally who and what God created me to be and to have the awareness of it.
Birthdays tend to make me reflective. I have been blessed with seeing the changing of 46 springs, summers, autumns, and winters, living a lifetime of emotions, moving through a variety of experiences, witnessing life and death, sickness and health, want and wealth, loving, laughing, losing, longing, tears and fears, joys, blessings, straining, gaining, becoming...

In this, my 47th year, my birthday wish is to be as the rose petals that liter my tabletop - free to be me, to express my individuality in such a way that it enhances the collectiveness not in a way that detracts from it. It would be beyond amazing if in this year I would discover, embrace, and marvel over my rose petal-like qualities.I Imagine embracing aged elegance as it unfolds itself before me leading me down its path of wisdom. To look past that crinkly dryness creeping up on the outside and to focus on the rich velvet pieces of past, present, and future that seam together the me that is fearfully and wonderfully - just as I am. To nurture the soft supple parts that are still growing, still learning, still becoming the me I am meant to be.

My birthday prayer is asking God to plant in my heart a tiny bud of faith to recognize and step into the dreams He dreams for me and that these dreams would blossom radiantly. May the fragrant grace of His vision, still any confusion or indecision. May His breadth of view be a shared perception of clarity and focus. May He draw me to a place of nourishment that grows me towards the dreams He dreams for me.I have been waiting quietly this first week of my 47th year to clearly perceive how to proceed. I find myself looking forward in anticipation to my 48th year where I can look back and see where this prayer has taken me.

My prayer for you, dear readers, is that you too will experience the blessed beauty of being who you were meant to be and that you too will sense the dreams He dreams for you!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

P.S. Thank you for all the kindness and concern for my health. I am not there yet - still. I will say this, I am better than I was but not as good as I could be. Things are being narrowed down, another doctor visit later this week, and hopefully some answers as well as curative treatment. I'll still be reserving energy and will post as I am either inspired or as able. Thank you for hanging in there with me! Your encouragement is good medicine indeed!

18 comments:

Barbara H. said...

What cute roses -- thanks for the link.

Happy birthday to you, and hope you feel better soon.

Linda said...

Birthday blessings to you! ♥

I love your Birthday wish - I'd like to adopt that as my own, for each and every day. It's beautiful and I'm so inspired by the way you reflect and share.

Colleen - the AmAzINg Mrs. B said...

Oh Happy Birthday! And I can say form experience, your time will come when you will feel like those rose petals, free and unique..and loved. Have a wonderful year until this time next year when you'll be raving about all the good health, the happy thoughts and the roses that you have loved :-)

The Feathered Nest said...

Happy Birthday sweet girl!!!!! Oh Sandy, you are such an angel...I want you to feel better and get back to your creative self!!! What a beautiful birthday post, you encourage us all ~ sending you hugs and love from Georgia, Dawn

Vee said...

Happy Birthday! You know that to me you're just a kid! Sorry that it's taking such a process to find meds or treatments that will help. Keep taking care of yourself. I was once told that our mortal bodies could not withstand knowing the full measure of God's love for us. He must shield us from the fullness of His glory. Hope that you have a restful and restorative week, my friend.

Robin said...

My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you during this difficult time. I hope you have a wonderful Birtday! I love your post and have many of the same sentiments you expressed...I too approach another birthday shortly.

Desires of the Heart said...

Hi Sandy, What beautiful things you write!!! What a gift you have been given!! Happy birthday! Hope this new year of your life brings you much happiness and rich surprises for you from the Father as He renews your health. Linda

seema gupta said...

beautifull flowers and words.
"wish you many happy returns of the day"

regards

Julie Ann said...

Happy Birthday!! You are already as beautiful as a rose, inside and out, and enrich our lives as a rose does- bringing joy and smiles wherever you go! *Hugs*

Anonymous said...

Sandy, beautiful thoughts...and coincidentally an echo of mine lately in realizing that I'm too old to keep trying to meet other's expecations when it comes to my creative spirit.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Lady!
Diane

Unknown said...

Your flowers are beautiful! I Just love your sweet Birthday wish! You do have a way with words. I wish I had that talent..

Happy Birthday!

Hugs, Linda

Vickie said...

Well, Miss Sandy, a belated Happy Birthday to you! Wishes for a wonderful 'nuther year and good health. Thank you for always being so thoughtful and talented in your words for us! I so enjoy reading your blog!

Decor To Adore said...

My most heartwish as that you would have the happiest and healthiest of days.

Sonya Badgley said...

Miss Sandy,
Happy Birthday to you dear lady.And I'm so sorry to hear that you have been sick again!
I will pray that God will give the Doctor wisdom to know how to help you.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful tutorial. And I LOVE the picture of the lady too! Oh my gosh, I'm coveting it so! HaHa! Beautiful words you have spoken and so true for all of us. Or it should be. Just think what it would be like if all of us were what God intended for us to be!
Many blessings to you, health,happiness,peace and the comfort of God's love.
Have a great rest of the week.
Sonya

David said...

Hope you had a wonderful birthday. Such a sweet birthday post! Reading your post made me realize I've already begun my 50th year. Funny, I've never thought of it that way. Thanks a LOT! lol

JD/ Jill said...

Sorry, I am late wishing you a Happy Birthday...so I'm wishing that the next year is one of the best ones yet for you. Thank you for your beautiful blog and all that you share...

daysease said...

Dear Miss Sandy, Your birthday wish is just what it ought to be... filled with hope, and desires for more of God's touch on your life. I want that. Thank you for sharing your heart. Beautiful! (and beautiful piece of art... the lady and the bee hives! So, so lovely!) Hope you are feeling better!!

daysease said...

OOp... I mean lanterns, not bee hives. hahahah...

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