Six in Suva: The big 4-0!

It was my 40th birthday last Thursday -which meant that Friday,Saturday and today were my birthday-Boxing Days! I think it's important to stretch things out for a decent amount of time. This was my first birthday away from Australia and family -and I must say, I would have loved to have been able to sit on my parents couch and have my sister wait on me hand and foot, but I am glad that not being there meant avoiding the pressure to have a party!
Tony and the kids worked hard to make the day fun -pressies in bed, my favourite foods and chocolates and not having to cook were all highlights. I really am very thankfu to God for these past 40 years-
* for 2 parents, sister and brother-in-law who love me unconditionally and make me laugh until no noise comes out. Ditto for their 4 boys, whose cheeks I miss squeezing.
* great in-laws who are accepting and generous in every way.
* a husband who daily puts my needs before his own, thinks I'm funny and who, when we fight, will sometimes make a funny face and it ends in laughter.
*3 super kids who crack me up and make life more fun.
* friends who know me well and keep choosing to be good friends -which I appreciate even more than usual now that I live away from home.
* for God who has put us here in Fiji -and is helping me learn patience, humility and contentment. Emphasis on the "helping me learn" bit.
I would never have thought by the time I hit 40 that I would be living in Suva dividing my time between home-schooling and teaching in a women's prison, but there you have it! God knew all along and works in all things for the good of those who love Him. That's good enough for me -and we'll keep plodding along serving Him here until He decides otherwise.

Well, there you go, I guess that's something like what my 40th speech would have covered. Here are a couple of photos of the fun day! Thanks again for all the birthday messages.