Monday, March 15, 2010

Happy Birthday!


Happy Birthday to me! I usually don't really want to draw attention to myself intentionally...on purpose....on my birthday. However, I have been feeling some "stuff" today that I wanted to share and wanted to document.

My grandpa (Papa) called me today to wish me a happy birthday. It is adorable that he has started calling everyone on their birthday. He is just a smile on my face. He is always loving, witty, cute and sweet all at the same time. He said something to me today that I have been telling everyone about and I think I keep doing so because it is probably something that affected me, especially today on my birthday. In Papa's true fashion, he asked me how I was feeling being one year older, and after I told him that I didn't mind being one year older-he told me that he doesn't get one year older anymore, he gets one year "closer". I got after him for even mentioning that his time may be getting closer. I seriously wouldn't know what I would do without him around. I know that it is inevitable, but I will miss him when it does happen. However, after he said that, I thought a lot about me being one year older. I always look forward to my birthdays. Not because of the attention, maybe a little for the cake, but mostly because I really do enjoy each year more than the last. This year has been a year full of more challenges than I would have even thought possible-let alone more than I thought I could survive! So how could I even fathom this being a better year than the last? With that, my Grandpa's comment about being one year "closer" means a lot to me this year. My Grandpa intended to refer to it as closer to being gone physically. For me, I would like to think about it as being one year closer to who I would like to be. One year closer to who my Heavenly Father would have me be. One year closer to knowing who I am and where I am going. One year closer to knowing my Savior in a more intimate way. So today on my birthday I have been given some amazing gifts from those that I love. I have received some wonderful words of Birthday wishes. But after thinking long and hard about what my Grandpa said, the best birthday gift that I felt I got today was when I decided that I am proud of who I am and who I am becoming and for that, I am grateful for the challenges (gifts) that have come to my doorstep to mold me and help me become one year closer to who I am. Here's to 36 (plus) more years of learning and growing!

8 comments:

Snowflake said...

Happy Birthday! What a wonderful way to think about growing older.

Todd and Amyjoy said...

Happy Birthday! That was a great post. You have a dear Grandpa to remember his grandkids. Glad that you appreciate him.
I wish you the best.

Nicole said...

I love checking your blog lately to be inspired. Let's call them "Deep Thoughts by Becca" (from SNL if you don't remember). Anyway, thank you for sharing your feelings and insight, I love it and you! Glad you had a good birthday!

Becky said...

Hey, Happy Birthday! Hope that you had a great day, and I love the way your grandpa looks at getting older!

Ranay said...

Great thoughts and a good way to think of birthdays. Thanks for sharing!
And Happy Birthday!

Meek Family said...

Happy Birthday and I love the pic of the cake. It looks too pretty to eat.

Amber said...

I so thought of you on monday. Hope you had a GREAT ONE! Miss ya

Kass said...

You are so wonderful, Becca! Happy Birthday. What an incredible gift from someone so wise. I will think of that this year on my bday too. Love ya!