Faith

I just celebrated another birthday and with that came some reflection.  I felt I would share my thoughts in this blog entry.
So my birthday was on Friday January 20th.  I had a great day of teaching and my grade 9 class phys.ed  class sang "Happy Birthday" to me.  I arrived home and Janelle and the girls where making mommy a birthday card.  Very sweet!  I had a nice dinner out with Brian, my parents, my sister Melissa, and her boyfriend Kyle at Sale E Pepe. This was followed up by a quick trip to Walmart and Home Depot.

Ava's Birthday Card

Jaelyn's card with lots of help from Janelle

So my reflection:
I have been truly blest another year.  If there was one word that is significant in my life it would be the word "FAITH".  I have several things around the house with the word faith.  I was thinking about this and believe that with FAITH we can have HOPE and we can truly LOVE.  
You can take this spiritually and scripture confirms this in 1 Corinthians 13:13.  Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (This was my wedding passage).  I have FAITH in a Saviour who sacrificed Himself so that I can have HOPE in everlasting life and this allows me to truly LOVE one-another.  
You can also apply this to daily life.  We have to have FAITH in others whether in a relationship, a friendship, or with a co-worker.  When we have FAITH we can then learn to LOVE.
So here are a few of my FAITH items.

Purchased this on Mom Swap 

These were in my bathroom at my old house.  Once I get my basement bathroom painted they will be up again.

Focus on the Family sent these magnets over a 3 year period and they are displayed on my fridge.

My last purchase that is found
in my main floor bathroom. 

 Faith is also a key component in another favourite saying you will see throughout my house.  With FAITH I believe you can LIVE, LOVE, and LAUGH.  

Found on my fridge.  

This is in my living room and has a Hoekstra clan photo.  We love them lots and have good times with lots of laughs.

The latest in my collection, courtesy of my friend Carol.  Thanks for the birthday gift.  It is in the main bathroom.

Lastly, my husband, surprised me with flowers on my birthday, as well as a rather large gift card to my favourite store in Chatham, The Paper Pickle.  A shopping spree will happen soon enough.  

Gerber Daisy 1 week later from The Purple Pansy.

I truly felt the LOVE this year!  Thanks everyone.  I will keep on in the FAITH!
A future blog will be on the curling excursion Brian organized for my birthday.  Good Times!