Happy Half Birthday, Tiffany!

Today is Tiffany's half birthday and yes, she celebrates joyously every year. I have to take the credit (blame?) for this fact. One day when she was 2 or 3 years old, a friendly grandmother type lady in the grocery store asked her how old she was. (Side note - things like that don't happen in today's world, but it used to all the time.) As she held up her little fingers to make whatever age she was, I realized she had passed the half-year point and so I made the casual statement that she was now 2 1/2 or 3 1/2, whichever it was. Being the first born overachiever that all first borns are destined to be, she never forgot that you can reach the half birthday part of a year.

For many years, it was just an acknowledgement of the fact that August 7th was her half birthday. I don't remember when, but at some point she began to treat herself to ice cream or some other little remembrance and by adulthood full blown celebrations began to occur. She's made cupcakes and shared them with co-workers, she's had half birthday cakes presented to her, and more than one birthday card has had half of itself sacrificed for the occasion.

If you don't know Tiffany, you might think she's just terribly self-absorbed to indulge in such a public display of self recognition. But if you do know her, you have been blessed by the childlike wonder and joy in which she so enthusiastically lives life and which has been sorely missing much of the last three years or so. Seeing her bloom again as God heals the broken places in her heart makes me smile and even though I can't be with her today, I can still be part of the celebration. So, Tiffany, here's to a wonderful half birthday and may you and your sisters share lots of love and laughter today!


"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17 NIV