This is the year I turn 40.  Well, actually, I already did. August 24th. 

I realize this is a monumental birthday that has the potential to carry with it some pretty serious emotional hits, but for whatever reason, it didn't bother me. I did some soul searching to make sure, but nope...no sadness, no grief at leaving my 30's, I don't feel suddenly older, I'm not going to stop and let myself go... 

It doesn't seem to make much sense to get upset about it, particularly when it doesn't feel OLD or anything. Or maybe I should say because I don't feel old! Now, when I meet a 28 year old, I officially think they're young, but come on - they are! :) 

40's the new 30...right? Just kidding. I hate that phrase.

It's just the next number in the sequence. 

I wonder if people in their 70's are saying 70 is the new 40? 

I wish I could say I felt different than I did a few months ago, but I don't! 

I hope I have acquired a certain amount of wisdom over the years; I certainly do pray for wisdom.

If life experiences are like books filling up a bookshelf, then I feel confident in saying my library is growing, but hopefully far from complete. The complexity and depth of those life experiences is certainly increasing, as I hope is my approach to handling them.   

I do feel that I am able to look at younger women, particularly younger moms, and have legitimate experience with which to counsel them, advise them, encourage them. I have been there and am still there, but I have learned so much about what it is to be a mom, a wife, a woman, a sister, a friend.

It's complex, this life we are living, and yet somehow so simplistic all at the same time.

Particularly when you're passing over big milestones.

Rather than fretting over the increasing number of gray hairs I find on my head (which, yes, was alarming starting a few years ago), I choose to accept that time passes and every year we are granted is a gift. 

I most definitely did not want a party for my 40th, and my husband knew that. My best friend, Emily, who also turned 40 this year, chose to help us both celebrate and came to spend several days with me in early August. I have to say it was a pretty spectacular gift to spend that much time with her. 

One thing I can say I have learned in the past 40 years is that true, deep friendship is a rare and wonderful thing and when you find it, you are very blessed indeed.  Emily is such a friend for me. 

Thanks to the Voxer app, we actually keep in communication with each other on a much more regular basis (daily) than we did when we lived a few miles apart in Arkansas. How crazy is that?

My moving cross-country has had the effect of drawing us closer together. We share the minutia of our daily lives with each other, cry together when life throws us tough situations, pray for each other faithfully, hash through our quandaries, struggles, questions, concerns...it's absolutely wonderful. I know I can be totally vulnerable and honest with her and she will listen, then give me wise, godly words in response. Christ is truly at the center of our friendship, and therefore the bond that much sweeter and tighter. 

When she came to visit me, the kids were still in camp during the days, so we had some normal days we shared, plus we went downtown one evening. It was so lovely.