My 40th Year

One week ago today, I turned 39. A fairly uneventful day, as I begged my husband not to go out and buy me a bunch of expensive gifts that I will never use (he is so sweet but has a knack for this sort of thing). I was happy to have a pretty quiet day, spend some time in the sun and enjoy my kids falling all over themselves to do all the chores in the house (this NEVER happens). My kids made me breakfast in bed, nice gluten-free cupcakes and my hubby made my favorite dinner of boiled shrimp. He ended the day by drawing me a bubble bath complete with candles and music; an indulgence I haven't had the pleasure of in a while. I'm pretty sure I quit taking baths once my kids took over the tub as toddlers. Anyway, I digress. While sitting in the warm bubbly tub, I reflected on life a bit. How did I get here? Why don't I feel like I'm almost 40? When did this tub get so small? What have I accomplished so far in life? What haven't I done? And so on, and so on. You get the gist. I told my hubby that I should document this year of my life and start a blog called "My 40th Year". "Great idea, honey. You should do it." said my doubtful hubby. Well, he does have a point. This is the 5th blog I have started and none of them have gone past a week's worth of posts. Alas, a week later, I still have the great idea in my head and my insomnia is driving me crazy so tonight I sit here with my first post. Apparently, I am not the only one with the idea "My 40th Year". So, instead of my oh so brilliant blog name, I will have to go with something else.

What have I accomplished in my 39 years on this earth? What did I envision for my life? Are they one in the same? Of course not. Who has ever lived up to their ideal? Well, maybe someone has, but it wasn't me. I'm not sure exactly where I thought I would be at this moment, but I'm sure it was something like career-woman, self-made millionaire, yada, yada, yada. Thankfully, I have a God who is more gracious than I could ever imagine and He has brought me down a much better path. Still, there are definitely things I always meant to do but haven't gotten to yet. Get my master's degree, travel the world-or at least get to Europe, start a business, be really great at something. These are decidedly not spiritual goals at all which is probably why they haven't happened but they are some of the things I've always wanted to do.

To start this year, I think I will begin by brainstorming some of the things I hope to accomplish in life. Sort of a "bucket list" if you will in no particular order. Here it goes:

• Lose weight and stay there (o.k., admittedly, I've done this at 24, 28, 32, and 37 but this time, I would like for it to be for good.)
• Exercise on a regular basis (I hate exercise, doesn't everyone?)
• Pay more attention to my health and well-being (mommy syndrome-take care of everyone but mommy)
• See the world. Most specifically Europe.( In my youth, I wanted to go the route of backpacks and youth hostels. In my sanity, I think maybe houseswapping or a nice B&B would be more preferable.)
• Learn something new. A new language, how to use my camera in manual mode, how to garden and care for my yard, etc.
• Live in a foreign country or two or three.
• Start a business.
• Go back to school for fun. Masters degree? Maybe. I just love to learn so anything would be great.
• Run a mile without feeling like I'm going to die. Never been able to do that.
• Take a week long trip with my hubby. Alone. No kids. (Nope, never gone more than a weekend without them.)
• See Sting in concert. (Does he even do concerts anymore???)
• Be able to scream "I'm debt free!" by  paying off our home.
• Serve those less fortunate than myself. I specifically have a heart for kids.
• Live on the beach. (O.k. I live a mere 15 minutes from the beach but I really, really want to be able to wake up and walk down the beach every morning and see the dolphins swimming from my kitchen.)
• Live my life in the very center of God's perfect plan for me. Jump off every cliff he asks me too without hesitation and enjoy the fall!