this is 39

I turned 39 a couple of weeks ago and Lila told me “39?! Whoa. That’s old.”

Pruett followed ,”Your voice is still the same? —only you look a little bigger.” (Thank you Covid weight gain).

I’d like to document what I would have liked to know about my own mother on her 39th, the glorious minutia. Please don’t forget to document yours for your family, somewhere .

Right now I’m really enjoying this life stage, I like you kids a lot. You make me laugh and you bless me. To that end I’m sorry for yelling a lot, it’s just that you all are always hungry and you ruin the furniture .

I love your dad more than ever, he’s my best friend. Every chance he gets, he tells me I’m his best friend. Please be the kind of humans that champion second chances— this is what God extended your you and now you’re called friend. Lest this become a Leanne Womack song (I hope you dasaaance 🎶), I will now gently transition into marking this year by joy.

We have found immense joy this year in watching you kids grow up, deepening friendships , learning to Rest in maturity that comes with age. Less fighting to be heard , more listening,more moving on in the best ways, less unnecessary opinions, more believing the best of others.

I’m making peace with my body, being nicer to me. I still need reminders to be gentle with myself and you will need to hear that too. There is nothing too bad or too wrong that God won’t meet you on the other side of the door of your disaster with the most gentle hand to take you back into the light.

And so! This is 39, kids: Gentleness & Joy. Can’t wait for you to get here and see, getting old is good and fun.