"He Has Made Me Glad"

Well, it has certainly been a whirlwind week of celebrating me becoming a "septuagenarian".  I had to actually look that word up and get the spelling correct. I've never been a "septuagenarian" before. Maybe some of you are already there and have more experience in this department. It's all new to me! LOL.

But I've had a great week of celebrating with friends and family, and I just praise God for so many blessings I can't count them all!

Here's a smattering of pictures from the past week. Some you may have already seen on Facebook.

Flowers from my kids, and then this lovely centerpiece container to put flowers in for on the table:

Friends from our former home came to spend the day and celebrate with me on Saturday:

I actually blew out the candles...of course there were only two candles, but they represent 70 years!

Took a BIG breath...and I was being very careful not to "spit" on the cake.

On Friday I went out to breakfast with my honey:

These pancakes were LOADED with blueberries, and SO Good!!

I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

A new bloom on the Rose of Sharon bush in the Memorial Garden for my "heavenly Birthday gift" from my son in heaven...

Our kids were here Friday night to celebrate with me too:

(after we went out to eat at a nearby restaurant, "Hog Wild Country Cafe". I had ribs!)

L to R: Sherrie (the sister to our daughter in law Rose, visiting from MN.), Rose, Benton and Scott:

This wasn't my birthday, but one day last week it was actually cool enough to wear my flannel shirt while taking our walk.  That didn't last long...we are back to summer weather again, but hopefully not for too much longer. I was celebrating the first day of autumn here:

And here below is our sermon for today from I  Peter 3:1-12, and our praise team singing

"He Has Made Me Glad"....won't you sing along...it will definitely make you "glad".

"I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart

I will enter His courts with praise

I will say this is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice for He has made me glad

He has made me glad, He has made me glad

I will rejoice for He has made me glad

He has made me glad, He has made me glad

I will rejoice for He has made me glad"

Interestingly, all week long it seems our morning devotional readings have been about age, growing older, life in general...these passages in particular seemed to be speaking to me directly:

Psalm 90:10-14

10.  The days of our lives are seventy years;

and if by reason of strength they are eighty years,

yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;

For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

11.  Who knows the power of Your anger?

For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.

12.  So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13.  Return, O Lord! How long?

And have compassion on Your servants.

14. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!"

Kind of goes along with the song we sang today:

He has made me glad, He has made me glad

I will rejoice for He has made me glad

He has made me glad, He has made me glad

I will rejoice for He has made me glad"

Yes, friends, I am very glad and thankful to have reached 70 years and be in relatively good health and feeling pretty good for someone of such a "great age". Truly I have been well blessed and am extremely thankful.  And I am thankful for each of you as well. I haven't been around to visit this weekend as I have been kind of busy "celebrating", but I hope to get caught up with you all next week. Thank you for so many who have sent me happy birthday greetings here or on Facebook. What a joy and blessing to have such wonderful friends!  God bless you all, and thank you again for being "friends".  

"He Has Made Me Glad!"