On Celebrating

This weekend our church had a prom. I know it sounds a bit unorthodox, particularly for a PCA church (we are called the "frozen chosen"!), but thankfully, we're that kind of congregation.
Every year we have a covenant renewal service, which commemorates the places we've been and looks forward to where the Lord is taking us as a spiritual community. This year, we celebrated 10 years with our pastor, Jason Dorsey, and his lovely wife. Jenny.
The prom was actually Jason's idea.
So we ate together, reflected together, and then we all thawed out and danced.
It was so much fun.

(The gown? A thrift store find, of course!)

Today is my 35th birthday, so just a bit more celebrating will happen on this otherwise ordinary Monday. Im making dairy-free ice cream (I hope), and will help the kids make Valentines. We might go out for Thai for dinner.
But most of the celebrating will take place within the confines of my heart. A quiet gratitude for all that has been given in my 35 years.
I read in Henri Nouwen's Bread for the Journey this morning:

"Birthdays keep up childlike. They remind us that what is important is not what we do or accomplish, not what we have or who we know, but that we are, here and now. On birthdays, let us be grateful for the gift of life."
(Feb 13 entry, ironically)

This is grace. The love of the Father poured out for 35 years on an undeserving soul.
And it leaves me very very grateful.

(This post is part of Grace-laced Mondays.)