Some people prefer to let birthdays slide right by. Then there are others of us who end up doing very public things on our birthdays – like speaking. The first winter after I moved from cold Ohio to glorious and sunny Phoenix I had to travel to Fargo, North Dakota, on my birthday to speak…in the dead of winter. Really, Lord? If this is how you treat your friends… Just kidding, Lord!

Fortunately, last weekend I didn’t have to fly to Fargo, ND, to speak and celebrate my birthday. I only had to drive 20 minutes down Camelback Road to a women’s fellowship night where I shared my “story” – “First a Daughter, Then a Bride.” It was a wonderful occasion to do so because 26 years before, the Holy Spirit slipped this phrase into my heart during a desperately needed prayer time with my dear friends. This phrase changed my life. And it continues to mold my life as it defines more and more the two bookends of my life – first a daughter, then a bride.

You’ll find the 30 or so minute podcast of the talk I gave that night at the end of this post. I hope you will share it with others so that they too can experience this wonderful birthday gift that belongs to all of us as daughters and brides.