My family certainly made my leap into a new decade an
exciting one!
As I watched so many of my childhood friends celebrate this milestone
birthday over the past few months, I couldn’t help but think about what these numbers really mean. Our
age is a blessing. It means that we’ve earned the scars we wear and that we have
learned from both our own mistakes as well as others. It means that our wisdom has
increased and our souls have found more nourishment. It means that, as we’ve
become more rooted, we’ve also become more daring. We’ve become gentler and,
yet, we’ve become more courageous.
I see it in my friends – and I see it in myself.
Life is beautiful in that it unfolds in tiny increments and
leads us in pathways we never know until it is set out before us.
So it has been with my journey. I’m so thankful for the
experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met along the way. My life looks nothing
like the one I’d imagined when I set off to college, but, in God’s perfect
plan, it has become something so perfect for me.
I’ve had some pretty wonderful people be a part of my life. Sometimes
friendships have faded away … sometimes by choice, or by distance, or, because
it was sometime before the advent of email and long-distance calling on cell
phones, or texting for that matter. Sometimes our lives have taken different directions. Sometimes they
have left this world, leaving me to navigate this life without them.
But I also have added new friends along the way – some have
become best friends so easily it has felt as though I’ve known them forever.
Some have become such incredible friends that, even in this crazy busy season
of life, they understand that, and when we get together, it is as though we
still see each other every day … even though we are too insanely busy to do
that.
All of these people, though, have touched my life – in big
ways and in little ways. What I’ve learned most over these last few decades is
that even the littlest thing – the act of smiling and saying ‘hello,’ can lead
to something amazing.
And, of course, my husband has been one of those people. He’s been my rock, my stronghold, the person who encourages me, challenges me and believes in me. He parents our two children so well – I couldn’t do this without him. And he and our girlies threw me a “surprise” party. They sent me upstairs … shut off all the lights … and jumped out to surprise me! LOL
I’m OK with this new decade – I have the bestest husband in the world and the most wonderful girls. Life is beautiful ~
 |
| A flour-mess never can be avoided when baking is a priority. |
 |
| My girls baked my birthday cake all by themselves! This is such a beautiful age! |
 |
| This guy made home-made macaroni and cheese for my birthday. It is my most favorite dinner! |
 |
| Hand-made gifts are perfect! |
 |
| His cards ... I love him so. |
 |
| Another battery pack for me ~ he knows me so well! |
