Five Loves on Friday // My Birthday Week

Happy Friday, friends!  Wanna peek at my birthday week?  Let's get right to the good stuff!

One  //  Birthdays are the Best 

Monday was my 43rd birthday!  Cue the confetti! ;)  I fully embrace each year added to my life with a grateful heart that God has blessed me with it.  None of us is promised another birthday, or another day for that matter.  I don't take for granted the gift of life, and even more importantly (since I know my life will one day end) I rejoice in knowing that I have eternal hope in Christ beyond my final breath.  Allow me the joy of sharing the lyrics to a song that sums up my life, my hope, what I will cling to now until my dying day.

 

In Christ alone my hope is found, 

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, 

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All, 

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied -

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine - 

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man, 

Can ever pluck me from His hand:

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

That is the song of my heart from now until this life's end.

This birthday was such a sweet one!  My heart is full thinking of all the love, laughter, family fun, and deliciousness that was fit into that one single day.  I don't have too many photos to share, but basically if I were Maria from The Sound of Music all the things of that day would've been included in the song "My Favorite Things". :)  My daughters' laughter, huge heartfelt hugs, my hubby who always fills my days with such love.  Receiving sweet messages from family and friends.  Sunshine, fresh air, fall plaid, and pumpkins.  Donuts on pretty plates, extra cheesy pizza, Pad Thai and egg rolls with sweet sauce for dipping.  Fun family flicks watched under a cozy new blanket.  Puppy snuggles and happy tail wags.  The smell and taste of a treat baked with love.  More on that to come...

Two  //  WDW Dining Reservations

I love this view of the wood-burning pizza ovens at Via Napoli ... and the pizza perfection baked up in them! 

My birthday began in such a magical way.  It was the day we secured all our dining reservations for our upcoming Disney World vacation!  We'll be enjoying meals at Raglan Road, Via Napoli, The Boathouse, 'Ohana, Sanaa, and Boma.  Dining is one of my favorite parts of vacation, so this made for a very exciting start to a Special Day!

Three  //  A Gift Baked with Love

When I requested a chocolate cake for my birthday my sweet hubby and youngest daughter were enthusiastic about granting my birthday wish.  My daughter came up with a cute design combining a few of my favorite things - plenty of chocolate, sprinkles, and heart!  They planned, shopped, and baked together and the end result warmed my heart and delighted my tastebuds!  

They made the heart topper from Hershey's chocolate bars - so creative!  I loved this sweet gift and it tasted every bit as good as it looked!  *Happy sigh*  

Four  //  A Thoughtful Gift That will Make My Hobby of Blogging Much More Enjoyable

The computer chair I've been using for the past four years has seen better days.  It had become very uncomfortable and after a couple hours working on a blog post I'd have a sore bum and lower back.  My awesome hubby took notice and came up with a gift idea that will make my time putting together posts extra comfy...

My heart is so light just thinking about the thoughtfulness and care that went into this gift choice!  What a man I have, he bakes for me and he gives me gifts that keep on giving!  He is one of the greatest gifts I've ever been given!  God is so very kind!

Five  //  Memories Cherished 

 

Something that I've really enjoyed this week is going back through photos of our 20th wedding anniversary.  I'm currently capturing memories from that couple's trip in my Trip Report Tuesday blogging series and the next post will definitely be one of my all-time favorites as it captures such a magical milestone day of celebrating!  I invite you to return and hear all about it on Tuesday!  

Thank you for spending a bit of your day with me today!  It's always joy to have you here!  Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Now I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika for another round of Friday Favorites!  

Earlier This Week on Chatting Over Chocolate:

Direct Link to Post - Trip Report Tuesday: Throwback Edition // 20th Wedding Anniversary WDW Trip Day 5 | Magic Kingdom, Gingerbread Displays, Savanna Views, and an Evening at Epcot

Join me in the adventures to come!

Follow along on Bloglovin for future blog posts and on Instagram for snapshots and stories in between!