I walked in the door after teaching Monday night, and you were grinning ear to ear, kicking your little legs as Daddy held you, and you said “Happy Day Mama!”

That is your way to say Happy Birthday. I actually much prefer it. Happy Day! Indeed!

Yesterday, your Mommy turned 40 years old. It’s strange to say and stranger to write. I don’t feel 40… whatever that means. But people have very strange reactions to the news. Many look at your sympathetically. “Ohhhh,” they say with a sad and concerned look on their faces, as if you told them of a diagonsis of an illness.

I want you to know that many beautiful things come with getting older… You are able to empathize with others in more thoughtful and compassionate ways. You are wiser about how to spend your energy and time. You can integrate aspects of your life in ways that make you better at all of them. You can connect people you have met along different paths as a means to support them (and the cool thing is that you usually grow too). You can be much more patient and supportive of people who are still learning what you have learned. You can ride the waves

Also, getting older doesn’t happen on birthdays. It happens when you aren’t looking. You notice the after-effects – sure, the wrinkles show up, but also you notice the things you care about have changed… and I feel, for the better. You give less power to people who you have less respect to, regardless of their “position.” You choose people to spend time with who, just by spending time with them, help you to be a better person. You know that an afternoon with your daughter in a sled is not wasted time… it’s a much better investment than most anything you can do. You do more based on the person you want to be, and less based on how others will react. You are better able to appreciate beauty – in the snowflakes, in your server’s personality at a restaurant, in the kindness one driver shows another, in eloquent words of a pastor, in the amazing voice of a Gospel choir soloist or the collective voice of 1000 people.
without getting as beat up by them.

I had an AMAZING “Happy Day!” It started with breakfast with you and your class – we brought in oatmeal, craisins, cheeries, raisins, bananas, strawberries, brown sugar and syrup. We got to read to you and watch you with your friends. (You really love it at daycare- what a blessing that is!!)

Then, after a little work, Daddy and I went to the bookstore and browsed… how fun! Then we picked you up and took you to the museum. You and I rode the choo choo train and giggled and giggled and giggled. We had SUCH a great time.

After dinner, you helped me open presents from both Grandma and Grandpa’s, took a bath and you snuggled in for bed. Daddy and I went out to dinner with Aunti Judi and Uncle Jim. What a perfect Happy Day!

Thanks for making my day so very special! I love you Peanut, with all my heart!
*Mommy