Birthday Wishes & Thank Yous!

Yesterday I got to celebrate my birthday all day long! It sure was special. The day wasn't much different than any other, but the outpouring of love and birthday wishes filled my heart full.

I waited forever to celebrate thirty and did that all stinkin' month last year. (It was literally a piano-burning good time!) This year, thirty-one came way to fast! 

As time marches on and my Grampy (93) reminds me often that "today" is the youngest you'll ever be in your lifetime. I can't help but to ponder the awe of birthdays and celebration. Some could take it or leave it, but I love them! I love getting to have my own birthday and love getting to celebrate other's too. Why is that? Why are birthdays such a big deal? 

I think it's because of three things:

1) Birthdays remind us that life is a gift. It's important. It has meaning and purpose! You have meaning and purpose! You are a magnificent and uniquely created YOU and I am me. Life is valuable as we're not guaranteed tomorrow. We have this one life here on earth and it's up to us on what we're going to do with it. The Bible says that we were created in the image of God and each person is unique, valuable and loved and that's worth celebrating!

2) Birthdays allow us to take a moment to be thankful. As we close our eyes to blow out the candles, we need to look around and see the gifts that God has given us - even if our circumstances aren't ideal, there's always something to be thankful for. Let's commit to counting our blessings and remembering what we have.

3) Birthdays give us the opportunity to champion and cheer for those around us. Biggest cheers and best wishes for the birthday kid! We gather, we sing, we party, and we make wishes to celebrate those close to us and relish in the value (and gift!) of life.

Thank you for the birthday wishes, the birthday happies and adventures! I loved hearing you sing, reading your texts, and seeing your FB and IG comments. Thank you for making me feel so special and loved. I love y'all so much. 

Cheers to thirty-one! 
xoxo
Jes  

"Then God said,  “Let us make man in our image,  after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!" Genesis 1:26-27,31

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:13-16

Thirty-One.

deLinde Kids birthday dinner with Cali friends.

Birthday lunch at George's on the Cove in La Jolla.

Cake for breakfast with the Black Knights!

Mini birthday surprise with my Thursday night girls!

Choosing Gratitude Today

It’s Thanksgiving Day. What are you thankful for?

As we gather around the dinner table today, let’s take a moment to reflect on the good things, the sweet gifts that bring us life and love, hope, and much joy and blessing.

The Lord has given us and blessed us with much.

As the Thanksgiving Day parade is playing in the background, the oven is preheating and I’m thinking of my fondest childhood memories, I can’t help, but to try to ignore the small quiet song in my heart that sings for the Hope of Heaven. The gratitude for that Hope for the future promise of Jesus Christ and of heaven.

I was fine last year with missing my Mom for one Thanksgiving and Christmas season, but the reality of her not being there for the rest, is still difficult to grasp. Yes, she’d be late to dinner, but my goodness once she finally sat down, she’d ask us each what we were thankful for throughout our conversations. So I’m asking you, what are you thankful for today?

I’m thankful today for the people in my life – my family and friends, my church community, and those I grew up with, work with, workout with, volunteer with, serve with and get to do life with. It’s the memories, the friendships, the opportunities, adventures and experiences that I hold on tightly to, but it’s YOU who I cherish most. God has been generous with His love in giving me so many of you to do life with. Thank you and I love you too.

What are you thankful for today?
xoxo

Jes

“We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy Name. May your unfailing love rest up on us, O LORD even as we put our hope in You.” Psalm 33: 20-22

“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7

Be-YOU-tiful

Girl, you're beautiful. Yes, you. 

And you know what's even prettier? When you are your authentic, awesome self. 

Why? Because God made you His masterpiece. He didn't mess up, make a mistake or get things wrong. He made you - you and that's beautiful. 

And it's time that we embrace the truth.  

The truth is this: You are talented, divinely unique, you are loved, chosen, cherished, worth the wait, intelligent, fun, creative, capable, trustworthy, stronger than you think and known. 

We must recognize that the messy hair, sweaty girl from the gym is just as pretty as the done-up supermodel in the magazine. Or the lady with the hairnet behind the lunch counter is valued as much as the woman in the power suit and heels behind the desk. The woman on the curb with only a bag and blanket has just as much worth as the mama with the Range Rover in the carpool lane with three kids.  The grandmother with laugh lines and wrinkles is just as pretty as much as the twentysomething with new sun-kissed tan lines. The Monet-like artist who paints on canvas is just as creative as the women who colorfully aligns tomato plants and peppers in her garden.  

Whether you believe it or not, you are worth it. You were designed to be creative, witty and loved, and to use your talents - uniquely to you - to serve and bless others. You being you, in your fullest and unhindered self, is a gift to others. 

Let's throw off the insecurity, the loneliness, worthless mentality and put on God's love and truth. Because, girl - it looks good on you.  

xoxo
Jes

#beautifulisyou

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body  and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!   Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." Psalm 139: 13-14

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Leaning into the Wait

Last week I posted about change. My goodness, we love it and hate it all at the same time, but what happens when we are ready for things to change, but they're not. What do we do in the wait?

As I am trying my hardest not to rush this season of my life - it's fun and exciting, has its challenges, but comes with just-about-all a girl could wish for - yet there's still a part of me that is ready to move onto the next thing.

Have you been there? If I could only make it through this day. Or if only that sweet baby could talk or walk already. If only I could move into that new home or get married or have children, or get a new job, new car, new pay raise, or get to Friday, if only I could get a new ______ or to the next _____. If only.  

If only we didn't wish our life away.  

Waiting is part of life! Just as much as change is, so is waiting. 

When we start wishing ourselves to the next season (or even to the end of the week!), we begin missing things. We miss the joy. We miss moments and laughter or memories and lessons. We miss the opportunity that's only found in the "right now" in these circumstances or this situation.  

If we aren't careful our beautiful, bright world will quickly become dull because of all that wishin' and wonderin'. By all means, dream. Dream of the days, the sweet life and the goals, but let's not miss what is right in front of us right now. 

Lord, remind us that this season of life has purpose. It's special and put here for a reason. May we not get in too big of a hurry that miss the opportunity to stop and enjoy today.

Let's pledge to stand strong, be present and take it all in during this season of life because the next one will be here before we know it!

xoxo

Jes

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬ 

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah‬ ‭40:28-31‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

Dear Change, We Don't Always Love You.

Why is change so hard?

May I let that question sit with you for a minute? Tomorrow I’ll have the opportunity to speak to a group of women at the Leadership Education Seminar. My topic is “Turnover & Transition” an eloquent title defined by change as we ask, “How do we lead through the change?”.  

Change is all around us. It’s in our personal life, a new season of life, at home or in the workplace, it’s in our relationships and community; it’s happening. Kids are taking their first steps, friends moving into new homes, graduates are starting college, parents are aging and friends are getting married and/or having babies. As I’ve heard them say in the South, “we’re all in the thick of it together.”

Whether it’s anticipated or unexpected, it’s the new. And we make the choice to either embrace it or resist it. What will you do? What’s changing in your life? What do you wish you could or could not change?

Most of the time my head screams embrace it, but my heart whispers wait, don’t. Other times, I can’t wait for things to change. (I’ll talk more about living in the “wait” in my next post.) Regardless of how the change comes, I’m praying that we’ll have the courage to welcome it. We want to be compassionate about the new, lean into the growth and opportunity with a smile and continue to remember that each season has a reason and a purpose.

Welcome, my friend. Change and new adventure awaits. What will you chose to do with it?

xoxo
Jes

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

If we're in a season of change, may we simply readjust our sails.