Twice, over the last month, I have spent time with extended members of my husband's family.  Last night, his Uncle and Aunt from Maryland were at our house for a visit.  We enjoyed dinner together, chicken and vegetable kabobs, good wine, and a delicious salad bar made up mostly from veggies pulled out of our garden.

 As I listened to stories told, I tried to catch details about my mother-in-law and her brother's childhood and past experiences together.  I wanted to hear snippets about a heritage I know little about, but affects who my husband and kiddies are.  These are people who share my younger children's genes.

 I searched for similarities in my kids and their relatives.  Eye color?  Mannerisms?  It fascinates me how traits are handed down through generations.  How my Meredith has the same eyes as her great Uncle.  I love reading books that span many generations, connecting families over time with laces of family secrets, stories and life experiences.  We are all apart of each other's history. Tied together through time and years.

Our evening was relaxing and lovely.  I am grateful to have been with these relatives. Family means so much to me. 

 At one point in the evening, funny Meredith asked her great Uncle Robert, who is a bird lover, if he had seen the movie "Rio". She explained that he would like it because its about birds!!  This made Patrick and I chuckle with delight today when she told us what she asked him.  Such a sweetie, relating something in Uncle Robi's world to her own. 

We have just finished week 2 of our summer break.  So far, the days have stretched long into the nights.  The theme of "just 5 more minutes" plays non-stop no matter what we are doing.  5 more minutes at the pool; 5 more minutes at the park; 5 more minutes with my friends.  Oh, it is sweet, summer.  There just aren't as many responsibilities, not as many worries. 

Even though the laundry is still filling the hampers and the tummys still need meals prepared, the air of the house is more relaxed.  My garden is blooming and the popsicles are filling the freezer.  Sure signs that we are in the fullw sweeg of summer.  Next week, we are all etiher attending or serving in Vacation Bible School.  It will be a busy week, a full week, a week of blessings. 

Today I bought a couple of new "school" shirts and some socks for my boy and a couple of fall shoes for Meredith.  The plan is to keep them in the bag and bury it underneath the pool towels so we can continue to smother ourselves with summer.

It feels SO good!!!

I am a sentimental girl.  No question, I have nostalgic blood running through my veins.  So, it is no surprise that I have thoughts of that nature running through my mind at this time.  Yesterday was my 40th birthday.  I am now a 40 year old woman.

That doesn't scare me or surprise me,  but I AM inspired by the number.  It seems as if I an now a TRUE grownup.  Like perhaps I can stop waiting for the REAL mom to show up, the REAL wife to step in, the REAL actress to start playing the roles I play, while this understudy part that I've been playing comes to an end.  I am 40 years old now.

My birthday, the actual day, was such a day of celebration.  I had the privilege of sharing my celebration with a group of close friends and of course, my family.  It was a glorious morning of laughing and enjoying each other.  I have the best friends in the entire world.  They are sweet, fun, helpful, beautiful, inspiring, and altogether lovely.

My friends are the foundation of my world.  They are who make my world solid, fun, and worth it.  I felt so blessed that they would come to share in the joy of my turning 40.  Along side my girlfriends were my daughters and my mom, as well as my hubby, son, and dad.  These individuals help  complete the picture of my life.  I am not an island.  I absolutely cannot take credit for any day being my very own.  Other than the Lord, the people that He has provided for me help make my days fun, creative, challenging, full of love and work and enjoyment. The fruit of HIS love, is my very own love.  

Over the past decade the thing that I have learned the most about is love.  Love can save you.  Love can encourage you.  Love makes you happy and can also leave you disappointed .  Love puts a spark in your heart, causes you to sacrifice time, sleep and money.  Love rescues you from sadness, and pushes you straight into the arms of the One who is the only one who epitomizes TRUE love.

People, human kind, cannot fulfill all that Love is supposed to be.  I am learning that I cannot hope too much in the human sort of love, but I can always throw myself onto the love of the Father.  This is what I have learned and pursued over the last decade.  Love.

And as I continue to grow, I have complete Faith that God will continue to grow me into the true woman of love He has planned for me.  I will be the Mom that He has designed me to be, with love.  I will reflect His plan as the wife that He wants me to be.  As a sister, a daughter, a disciple, a friend... with the Lord living inside of me, I will learn more and more, and live more and more like the person that I have been created to be.

Being 40 excites me.  I anticipate growth and humility and peace as the next decade reveals its days to me.