Making it Lighter Today

Good morning to my beautiful friends and family!

Only those of you who have subscribed to my blog will get this post today.

I want to thank you personally for investing your five minutes of free time in my little corner of the world.

I love our time together and that you put up with my crazy!

Today is my birthday, although Facebook is set at January 1st. When I started my blog I was warned to stay as strictly confidential as possible. Not to ever name names. To be as James Bond as possible, a “need to know only” under-the-radar type of operation.

Ha.

It took me over a year to be brave enough to post a photo of myself.

Now, everyone who actually knows me knows exactly who I’m talking about.

And they know when my actual birthday is.

I have to admit, it’s pretty wonderful to get all of the Facebook birthday wishes, though; makes for a great start to the new year.

But the rest of you are on to me.

I even got ‘Happy Birthday’ emails from my dentist and my home-owners insurance company.

My mom called.

Yes, I answered.

I’m leaving Facebook and the media alone today.

It’s not my fault something terrible occurred on this date and I won’t allow it fill my head with the images of a day I will certainly never forget and that still makes me cry.

But, today is also the solution to the atrocities of the world and my own personal life.

We are always so distracted by the darkness.

Nothing will happen, though, unless we stand up and turn on the light.

Today is my birthday. I can make that matter.

I am still here. And so are you.

Just a couple of little glowing armies…of one.

So, I chose to go to the beach today and walk on the hot sand and watch the bright foaming waves crash over and over, ribbons of seaweed winding around my ankles.

I breathed in the salty air and remembered Who turned on the light that First Day.

And that it was good.

And I’m thankful for another year.

And I’m thankful for every single person sharing it with me.