I keep saying that word in my head. Forty. Well that's not possible, is it? Forty. Well yes, actually, it is. Forty. I am forty. A number that seemed to be looming over my head for the longest time that I didn't really want to happen, but it did. There was no stopping it. It has caused me to reflect on life a lot the last couple months. Time, change, life experiences, health, all that stuff. A lot of times I feel like I'm kind of in a strange place. A lot of my peers who are in the same stage of life as me, with littles at home, are 10, 12, even almost 15 years younger. Not all of them. I do have a few stragglers along with me who are a little more upwards in age;) Then again there are others my age who are facing their kids' high school graduations. But I realize that I can look around at all of them and say "these are my people." Friendship doesn't really have an age.
The fun all started last Wednesday when I went out with a few friends for the evening. Up until just a year or two ago, I would have turned up my nose at sushi. I'm so glad I've been enlightened!!
The fun will actually continue into next weekend when I have the chance to go out with some more friends for the evening. My hubby has done well!!
This weekend was pretty phenomenal as far as celebrating goes. The kids were so excited to give me their presents! Except Tanner who really had no clue what was going on:)
About mid morning I told Danny I was going to my cousin's house because I wanted to check out her knives. I need new knives and she said hers are really good but I didn't want to buy them before I felt them in my hand and cut something with them. I like knives:) Anyway. Danny told me I just need to stay put. Hmmmmmmm......... right??
About 9:45 the first people showed up. And then people kept showing up throughout the day until the middle of the afternoon to wish me happy birthday! There was the most random assortment of people from my past that Danny had done the work of inviting after other people gave him ideas of who to invite. For some reason I had it in my head that he wasn't really planning anything and I was feeling pretty disappointed. I even talked to him about how I was feeling because otherwise I knew I would just sit and stew about it and it wouldn't be good for either one of us. I don't know why I underestimated him so badly!!
It was so fun to see who in the world was going to show up next. Some of them were no brainers but some were real surprises!
After that all came to a close, we went out with my parents to the restaurant in town. Then they took the kids home while we went out for ice cream and a walk in the park together. We are laughing in this selfie because Danny had just snapped a picture while I was burping:) 😂
Sunday night was a planned (not surprise) party with a lot of my family. While they were singing to me, I was overcome with emotion over all these people that I love so much. And they were there that night because they love me in return. What a gift from God I have been given in this life.
Also my cake made me cry. My cousin is an amazingly talented decorator and I was blown away. For anyone reading who doesn't understand the cake, it's a boiled down representation of my life. Quite literally, my forty year journey. And when I opened up the box, it was like that journey flashed before my eyes. What a journey it has been.
So here's to forty. I don't know what the next years of my life will hold. But I know who holds them and I will gladly journey on with Him and with all the people he has put in my life.
Deuteronomy 31:8
"It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
