John threw me a wonderful surprise birthday party that was so fantastic. I was surrounded by friends who know me best and love me anyway, and family, who has to love me. Oh, just kidding. But they do. I feel like they'd love me even if we weren't related.
It was such a fun evening! The decor was absolutely beautiful - lights strung from trees, tea lights burning, beautifully decorated tables and lots of pictures from my life. John and my good friend, Amy, worked a long time to pull everything together. It was magical.
There was a chef on site that prepared the food, which was absolutely delicious. After dinner and dessert, there was a big screen set up where John showed a movie he had put together. It was the sweetest thing ever - birthday wishes from friends and family near and far, as well as from the pastors at our church, the Chick Fil A crew, and Tim from Target (these are places I frequent). It was so sweet!
It was such a lovely night, and a great memory of turning forty.
Here, in no particular order, are forty things you may or may not know about me, in honor of this milestone:
1. It's taken me well into adulthood, but I have embraced my curly hair. I am frequently asked by strangers what products I use, if it's natural, and less frequently, if they can touch it. (No.)
2. I am quickly endeared to people who engage and pay attention to my children.
3. Being a Mama is my favorite.
4. I love my family fiercely, and I enjoy spending time with them.
5. I buy things on Amazon a LOT. It's scary-convenient. I never knew there were so many things I would think of at any given moment that I really need.
6. I'm sort of a curriculum junkie. (See #4. I totally blame Amazon.) I love looking around and the idea of so much stuff out there appeals to me, but I am guilty of buying it and never using it.
7. I love friendship, and meeting people that I really connect with.
8. I seem to buy a new throw blanket (or two or ten) every fall.
9. I have an obsession with tea, Chick Fil A, books, and kitchenware.
10. I talk to my Mama every day.
11. I am a cat lover. Some people may call me the crazy cat lady, but I prefer feline enthusiast. I absolutely adore my cats, and I'm partial to all the cats.
12. I love my dog, but I'm not a dog person. I don't like how other people's dogs sniff and bark and growl....it makes me uncomfortable. A dog nose in the crotch tends to do that.
13. I LOVE to bake. I bake often. My kids childhood memories will certainly consist of cookies.
14. I don't love to exercise, but because of #13, I'm forced to.
15. I take pictures every day of my life. I compile them in a book at the end of each year, so I have a photo and a little blurb about that day, every single day for the entire year. I have been doing this for seven years now.
16. The older I get, the more I'm able to set aside worry and strife, and pick up faith and thankfulness.
17. (I still worry some.)
18. I love buying my kids clothes. It brings me great joy.
19. I love encouraging my kids passions, and exposing them to lots of different things so they will know what they are passionate about.
20. We read a lot of books around here.
21. Most days, I could toss my tv out the window and be just fine.
22. I am very thankful for the sweet homeschool community we have.
23. I love pumpkin, and feel the need to bake every pumpkin thing imaginable once fall arrives.
24. This life of mine brings me so much joy, happiness, and love, and I'm grateful every day that I get to live it. Life is so different than you ever imagine when you are young and carefree, but it is so rich and full and wonderful.
25. Forty is kind of a high number.
26. I laugh a lot. I like people who make me laugh, and find I'm drawn to friends who laugh a lot.
27. I love to write, and I really want to keep this blog going, but it doesn't seem to be working for me. I can't really figure out why. I don't think I can continue to blame having three, when I've had this gig for 4.5 years now.
28. After nine years of homeschooling, my dream has come true this year. Since the very beginning, I have wished that we could homeschool with another family that we were good friends with, doing the same curriculum, getting together for fun activities, meeting in parks, sharing in the assignments. And this year we are doing that, and it's been such fun! Cinderella was right - dreams really do come true!
29. I don't care for sports.
30. I am very hot natured. I'm hot most of the time. Yet my feet are freezing, so I wear fuzzy socks. Strange.
31. I take a bath every night, and a shower every morning. Call me weird.
32. Seriously, 40 things?!
33. I would love to open a bakery, and write a book. In some other life where I have lots of spare time.
34. I don't have much time "away" and I used to stress over this. But now (that I'm older, I suppose) it doesn't stress me. I think everyone is created different, and some people need more time to themselves than others.
35. I don't like being alone.
36. I eat eggs just about every morning of my life.
37. My kids love to help me bake, but it makes me bonkers.
38. I am starting to wonder if I can make it to 40 things.
39. I drink tea every day.
40. I try to live every day grateful for the wonderful life that I have - my Jesus, my family, my friends, the beautiful place I call home.....I'm so thankful.
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