happy re-birthday to you!

i have many thankfulz this time of year. 

the frost has come, solving our arthropod problem.

i have a steady job that will last as long as people continue to have chest pain- so basically, i'm good.

i have a family complete with all manner of side notes, asterisks, and problems, but also a uniqueness all its own that makes it...well, my family (don't we all!)  :) 

i have what i need and more, always blessed beyond what i'd ask for or realized i needed.

for me, it is also an especially thankful time because i celebrate a special personal holiday that alot of people don't.  it's a re-birthday, although i've heard a couple other names for it.  yeah, it's a bit on the cheesy side, but it's the only reason i can celebrate anything at all ever.  while the federal government knows my birthday to be in february, i can point to the calendar page where i really started LIVING, and that's November 22, 2009. 

one simple prayer and meaning came to meaningless life, joy to an aching heart, and a purpose to nursing school :P routine religion suddenly was replaced with an actual relationship with a huge invisible, omnipotent deity who had had it all under control all along. to me, that's more important than a birthday that i don't remember and when i don't think i looked my best anyway :P  it's why 11/22 is my facebook birthday, except for about 24 hours in february, when i celebrate sharing a birthday with 2 excellent friends who have positively influenced my life, and a few other excellent friends who know both dates even when facebook doesn't tell them :)  i still love getting wall posts on both days, especially from those who don't know which birthday is which.  it's pretty cool- especially since it means i can tell again the reason why.  it's been two years and i still haven't gotten tired of it!

no party, no presents, no festivities- just me and God having a happy moment, which was just as good and better.  i even got called off work so my happy moment was largely expanded!