I couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day yesterday!  The sun was shining…the temperature gauge on my car read 74 and I got so much accomplished the 5th day of October!  I wasn’t very excited about turning 31 and actually, I really didn’t think with all that I needed to do that I would really enjoy myself…but I did!  I had a fabulous birthday filled with countless wishes from incredible friends and family and felt showered with immense blessings!  I feel so very loved to which I am so thankful!

It started out with a very special, fashionable gift hand-picked for me by my bestie and then we went (but of course) shopping (NOT for shoes OR boots!) and I got a fabulous fall outfit thanks to a generous gift from my in-laws…in addition to Maxwell’s Transformers Bumble Bee Halloween costume which he is wearing right now and has been every second he can get away with it.  He keeps insisting that I am ONLY 20!  He is too kind!  Then we went grocery shopping (a Wednesday MUST) and THEN my wonderful sister treated me to a delicious gluten-free lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Blue Water Grill, complete with Moscato and Creme Brule!  I felt absolutely spoiled!  It was disappointing to have sad babies in the nursery last night…18+ months is notorious for separation anxiety…but my sweet hubby surprised me with a wonderful gluten-free dinner when I got home that he made himself!  A perfect end with my love to a spectacular day!

I started thinking about this coming year and what goals I want to achieve.  You know me…I always want to be doing something!  While it would be easy to make a list of tangible things the Lord took me to another famous 31 woman…the one in the book of Proverbs.  I’ve decided that instead of just holding her in high esteem…I want to strive to be more like her.  So every day this year I want to read that passage and really study it and pray that God will show me how I can be a better wife, a better mother, a better daughter, a better sister, a better friend each day.  How I can really support my husband the way God wants me to.   How I can reach out to those in need.  But most importantly how I can continually abide in Christ so I will be ready, willing and able with His strength to be obedient to His promptings each day. 

Here’s to embrasing 31!

 A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies. 
Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks. 
She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:10-31