Today the friend I have known the longest is turning 40. I wrote this a while back, but it needs to be posted for her birthday with wishes for the most awesome day so far!!

I never understood why some people complain about having birthdays and getting older. It especially bothers me when parents make comments about why their kids just keep growing up!

Birthdays in and of itself are the greatest gift we can receive! The chance to have lived another year, another day!! I love seeing my kids growing up and celebrating their birthdays!! They are here and alive and kicking!! In fact, I make a HUGE deal out of birthdays, celebrating for weeks that your very own New Year is here!  This is a priveledge denied to too many. I have seen many people lose their lives, and trust me, you want to get older, and hopefully, someday, be old!! You want to watch your kids hit milestones and become adults and be successful and, most importantly, healthy!!

This is the year where an entire group of some of my closest friends will all turn 40.  I turned 40 two months ago. I am honestly so excited to have made it this far and I pray for so many more birthdays. I have been blessed to have been married, have children, have AMAZING friends. All of that happened on top of an upbringing better than anyone could have ever asked for, with loving, giving parents that would do anything for me, my siblings, and all of our friends. I have learned so much from my life, but mostly to be grateful and patient. There is always a silver lining and, whether we know it or not, it will come.

As I turn 40, I look at my blessings and my future with hope, love, and excitement for what it brings. I have plans!! Big plans!! And each year as I am granted yet another birthday and another chance to get even older, I will also be given more time for these accomplishments, goals, helping others, loving others, and, most importantly and God willing, seeing my 4 amazing children get older and grow up too. So, Happy Birthday to all of us…grab your cane, hit your grandkids over the head with it, and be happy that your ship has yet to have sunk!!