On turning 40, a Challenge and a Birthday Giveaway

Thank you all for your birthday greetings for my daughter yesterday. I didn't mention that I also celebrated my birthday this week. And I hit the big 40! I used to dread turning 40. When I was a child, I always thought 40's is my mom's age forever. And now I'm 40 and I'm the mom. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Every year on my birthday, I have a tradition to stop, reflect on my life and ask myself some important questions:  Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year or On Your Birthday

Actually, it starts as 10, but the author adds 21 more. All the questions in this article are worth checking out, but I picked some here that I want to share with you. I hope you will find these helpful as you reflect on your own life as well.

• What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
• What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
• What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what’s one way you could simplify in that area?
• What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
• What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
• In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?
• What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

I want to emphasize the last one, which covers pretty much all the other questions. I strive every day to do everything with eternity in mind. Card making or stamp designing may not quickly bring eternity to our minds, but every little thing we do to honor God and to bless others has eternal significance! I have much room for improvement, but by God's grace, my life has been a testimony of His goodness. I love getting older because the more years I have, the more I can speak of God's faithfulness in my life.

Life is good because God is good. 
 (I just love this and I think I may make this into a stamp someday).

Now on to my card for today. I am the proud sponsor of the Lily Pad sketch Challenge. I am giving away several stamp sets as a prize. I hope you will play along. Here is my take on the sketch using The Craft's Meow's Simply Delightful and Fly Free sets.

Some of my dear friends have joined me on this challenge and here are their beautiful cards.

Laura

Lisa

Jennie

Now, we can't have a birthday without a giveaway. Please leave me a comment on this post and I will pick a winner to win one of my new Spellbinders die designs, Classic Scalloped Edgeabilities. The contest ends on Friday night, Oct. 28th and the winner announced soon after.