Turning 40

It's been approaching all year.  Sneaking up on me.  Sometimes quietly - sometimes loudly.  Mentioned often by my husband.  He's just excited that it finally came.  He's been jealous of my still being in the 30's for the last 3 years.  There is no stopping time.  It came.  I rolled into a new decade this past Saturday.

Russ allowed me to sleep late.  Because we all know that you need more sleep when you get older, right?



Then I had lunch with my best friend, Emily, who is moving away FOREVER.  But we won't go there yet.  Nope.  Not yet.  There will probably be a blog about that later - but not today.  Not ready to go there yet.

Anyway - we were only going to be gone a little while as they are moving after all and she left her husband home with the 4 kids and a list of things to do.

We were able to sit and talk almost uninterrupted for about 3 hours. We only received one phone call.  I won't tell you which husband it was - but I will tell you that it had something to do with not being able to find the list. 

But we forgive him because that's what us girls do. 

 I came home in time to change and get ready for dinner out with my wonderful hubby!

We took the kids to stay with Nana and Papa (a.k.a. Russell's parents) and we drove to St. Augustine for the evening.  One of our favorite places to escape to.

Russ took me to Creekside Dinery and the weather was so nice we were able to sit on the patio.  That NEVER happens for my birthday!  Florida - in JULY?  Hello?  Keep me in the a/c please.  I'm all dressed up and do not want to wilt.

But we had some rain during the day and it stayed overcast.  With the nice breeze coming off the creek - we had an enjoyable dinner outside - and didn't even get sticky!  That's awesome!!!

Not sure why this photo looks blurry.  I think the lens on my phone was smudged.  Russ thinks it's a filter.  Now that I'm 40 I need that Dorris Day thing to help me out.  Humph.  It does add a softness though, don't you think?

Ahem.....Continuing with my weekend - we went for a leisurely stroll through downtown St. Augustine.  Stopped and had dessert and drove home.

We eat out every Sunday.  Mainly because we are all the way at the beaches for church and it's silly to drive home and then back again for the evening activities.  So we just stay there.  Because it was my birthday - I got to choose.  I love Cruisers Grill.  Marinated Chicken Chunks.  That's all I have to say.  Love them.  I think they remind me of my mom.  Regardless that's what I wanted on Sunday.



Marc, Sam and Chloe joined us.  The other really fun thing about Cruisers is that they bring everyone Tootsie Pops when they bring you your bill.  How cool is that?

Loved this picture of Chloe enjoying her Tootsie Pop!  How cute is she????

We have a wonderful couple in our church who travel during the summer.  We miss them terribly when they are gone as they are always such a huge encouragement to both Russ and I.  Big supporters.  But they allow us to crash at their house on Sundays when they are away.  Russ can study - take a nap.  The kids and I enjoy the pool.

This past weekend - since it WAS my birthday - Marc, Sam and Chloe joined us at the pool.  Our schedules have been so crazy for the past several months that it had been a while since we were all able to hang out and enjoy one another.  It was so much fun!  And it created photos like this:

 This was an attempt to throw Jarod - he's just too big now.  LOL!

 

 Taking a break.  Love it - Russ is reading "Lord of the Rings" for the bazillionth time and Jarod is reading "The Hobbit"   That's my boys!!!!

I love hanging out with friends and family.  It was a nice weekend.  Many have made a big deal about "turning 40" but I have to say that it's been fun.  This past year has been a really great year for me.  I've learned a lot about myself.  My business has grown and so has my confidence.  I am somewhat content with my life.  I say somewhat because you can always be growing and learning.  I always want to be willing to do what God calls me to.  Being too content can be dangerous.  But I do feel as though I have "arrived".  Now please don't take that as an "I've got it all together" comment.  More like an "I'm on the verge of something really big and I'm ready to move forward" comment. Or an "I'm right where God wants me" comment.  I've let go of a lot of the "stuff" that has been keeping me from moving forward.  Besides, isn't 40 supposed to be the age of wisdom and experience in life? That's what Russ keep telling me. 

The last few years have been difficult.  Lot's of changes, lot's of busy-ness.  It took a big toll on me.  I often felt very out of control.  Once things calmed down and we found a good routine that fit our family, things started to fall into place.  Ya know, when you are running like that, it's very hard to hear God.  It's very hard to take your focus off the next thing.  You just keep doing the next thing and the next thing but then you find that none of it is getting done well because you are so busy and so focused on doing the next thing.  UGH!  It makes me tired to just think about it.  

Back in December, when God was really working in my life about Haiti and the ApParent Project, he was also working on getting me out of the "next thing" cycle.  Slowing down, making goals, looking beyond myself to the future.  He has humbled me in many areas, he has shown me life beyond me and my family again.   He helped me to find a balance. I set a goal then to loose 40 pounds by my Birthday and on Saturday when I got on the scale, it said 41 pounds were gone!  How awesome is that?

For the first time in a really long time - I like me.  I feel good about myself.  I feel confident as a person.  I know that God still has great plans for me.  He's not finished with me yet.  In some ways I feel like I'm just beginning.  I have experience and my "stepping stones of faith" behind me and I am ready to move forward to the next thing.  I have a wonderful marriage, an awesome husband, two beautiful children who know the Lord and a God who loves me beyond my understanding.  I feel like I am sitting on the edge of something great!  I don't know what or when or how - I only know that I don't want to miss out!  Being in God's plan is the absolute best place to be!  Turning 40 - BRING IT!!!!  I'm excited!