Birth - day

I have officially joined the mature crowd this birthday - it's the first time my birthday caused me to reflect on my life. Do or have I acquired all I set out to do at this age?? Well, I have learned a lifetime of lessons in just the past 2 years. I learned the most integral things like who my real friends are, that parenting never ends as a child of parents who are each day becoming more my friends, that I married the right person and that love encompasses, heals, motivates and most of all the living of life. I begin the week of my birthday with this melancholy muddling mood (I can never let go of English teacher check that alliteration out) of look where you are this is not where you thought you would be BUT my week ended with reminders of who I am and what I mean to others. Consciously being aware of who I am in respect to others helped me snap back to gratitude and taken measure of the woman I am because of all I have acquired despite my losses I am more than that...I am a tenacious teacher (aspiring to greatness) which my students showed through cupcakes, hugs and plenty of "happy birthdays", I am a fantastic friend (I pray) so many of them wished me love, celebrated with me with food, spirits and their words, I am darling daughter, sensational sister, considerate cousin, nifty niece, glamorous granddaughter, whirlwind wife these are all the things that make up who I am as a woman…not just my losses. In my reflection of this Anniversary of my Birth I realized how fortunate I am because of all those people on the other end of my relationships where I can be all those great adjectives of darling, sensational and wonderful now knowing more than even that I am not that way always and giving myself permission to feel all the things I feel even when I feel low, empty and a deep longing but making sure I never stay there but recall my times in Las Vegas, Maui, the DR or even this past Christmas South Africa. I have been afforded some great people and places in the last 37 years...but I am more excited to realize more and more each day that this ride of life is just beginning...I deep expectation for HIS good work to be done and bring me to an expected end.