This is my first birthday without Nathan. He would always send me a silly card, something along the lines of “I smile because you’re my sister; I laugh because there’s nothing you can do about it!” He would also call at some point during the day and sing to me. He usually opted for the “you look like a monkey and smell like one too” version of the Happy Birthday song.

Today, on my 35th birthday, I have been so blessed with dozens of friendly reminders on Facebook, emails, phone calls and friends just stopping by the office to wish me a happy day. I can’t help but feel a little sad that Nathan won’t be calling to serenade me, but others have gone out of their way to make today a joyful, relaxing, happy day. I can’t thank them enough!

I have a friend who makes a special phone call every year on her birthday – to her mother. She calls just to say, “Thanks for having me!” What a neat idea. Isn’t that what birthdays are about? It’s our reminder, once a year, to let someone know that we are glad they are in our lives. We are glad they exist.

Tonight, I think I will kick back and let my five precious blessings enjoy Stay-up-late-and-play-video-games Night and thank God for another year of existence on this Earth.