Forty is the new....Forty

So, this is the year I turned 40. I know, you are shocked, right?! ;)

My friends hosted a wonderful dinner for me at Cafe Milano a week before my birthday. I was a teary-eyed mess. I blame it on 40 year old hormones.

I tried to tell each of them how much they meant to me and how precious their friendships are to my heart. I blubbered my way through it as best as I could.

Little did I know, that the following weekend, I would walk into my friend, Kim's house, and find ALL OF MY FRIENDS and their SPOUSES singing happy birthday to me!

Yes!

It was a HUGE SURPRISE. I still cannot believe that I had NO idea about this party. None.

The funny thing is, I was having a very emotional week. Shocker, right? I even texted Lem that week and told him that I felt like I had no friends and that nobody liked me. You know, typical mid-month hormonal crap.

I do have the greatest friends. And when I feel lonely again, I will remember my birthday week and how much love I felt surrounded by precious people.

40 is weird. It just feels weird to say. I don't feel 40. I guess none of us ever do.

However, there is so much good at this age. I feel comfortable in my skin. Like never before.

My marriage is stronger than ever.

My kids are such a blast at the ages they are!

Things that used to bother me, do not bother me.

I have a lot more grace than I did in my early thirties.

I have realized that life does not revolve around me and the way I perceive things.

I let things go.

My relationship with Christ is stronger than ever.

I don't feel the need to strive. To be liked. To be noticed. To be sought after. I am content.

Contentment is a gift.

I am much more thankful than I was in my thirties.

Each day is a gift. I see that now.

I have so much more grace for myself as well. I don't feel the pressure to be a certain size. I just want to feel good in my jeans.

Honestly, forty is good.

Really, really good.


Here are some pictures from my birthday. I have more to post, well, in another post. Stay tuned.

I apologize in advance for the overload of my face in EVERY picture. I wanted to capture every friend---uhhh, with me of course.

Beth and me

Mary and me

Kelli and me

Mom and me

Amberlee and me

Erin and me

Kelly and me

Lisa and me

Kim and me

Rebekah and me

Bible study girls birthday dinner!

"Mommy, make a funny face."

Presley and I enjoying milkshakes after our
manicures--on my birthday.
Manicure: Courtesy of my friend, Melissa. ;)

Presley brought me breakfast in bed. All by her precious self.
Coffee mug: courtesy of my friend Lisa. ;)
And if you are wondering what is in the bowl, 
it's Greek Yogurt. With peanut butter. And honey. And blueberries.
The girl knows her momma well. 

Spring Break Fun......

We love the beach.

We really do.

As we celebrate the {almost} end of another school year, we are soaking up every ounce of our Spring Break.

I will spare you more descriptive words, and just post the pictures. They tend to speak for themselves.


Happy Spring Break!!

1) Let's GO!!
2) Ice cream at ZuZu's--a beach tradition
3) Presley loves this whale--we took this on our morning walk to the pier.
4) Beach babes
5) Playing at the beach with friends--always fun!
6) a not-so-shy pelican at the pier
7) Practicing my French braiding skills--need more practice.
8) Fun friends at the beach! The Browns, The Spinks, and the Tanners
9) We ate pizza on the beach the night this was taken. So much fun!

12 Candles.....

Joseph has officially claimed his 12th birthday as: 

THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

Those are his words. 

We spent his birthday at the Georgia Aquarium. Momma Jane took all of us. 

It was SO much fun!

He then requested The Varsity for lunch. Mmmmmm. {yes, i need to go run. for miles. and miles.}

After all of that, we went to see his Maw Maw and Paw Paw and they took him to Cracker Barrel for dinner.

Does it get much better than that? Wow.

The day before his birthday we had a family dinner party at our house. The Crowes, The Allgoods, and The Jaynes came over to celebrate our August babies...Amberlee and Joseph. 

Birthdays are the BEST!

Happy Birthday, Joseph

Fun cousins! Behind Joseph--Graham, Presley and Danny

!

4-d movie

swimming with the sharks!
{well. not really. but it was cute}

Presley pets a {fake} beluga whale.
these are my favorite.

with the penguins! presley said they stink--she's holding her nose

electric eel

his present. hanging on the wall. good grief. boys.
{i think Lem likes this just as much as Joseph}

celebrating Amberlee and Joseph! our August birthday babies.

Joseph's favorite chocolate cake--made by Aunt Angie.

Kim made some yummy banana pudding cake
 {and a gluten-free one!}

my beautiful birthday girl--amberlee!

look at my boy!

The Crowes, The Hills, The Allgoods, and the Jaynes.

singing to Joseph

make a wish!

12 candles. wow.

Joseph & Amberlee
12 & 19

Our Summer so far.....

Because I know y'all have just been dying to know what the Hill's have been up to...{just go with it}

A little slide show of our Summer---so far. 

In no particular order. I was too lazy to chronological-ize. {yeah, that's not a word}

this happens when she gets my phone. which is often.
there are a million more just like it.
i will spare you the presley-selfies.
only a mother could love them {a million times over}

happy birthday paw paw!

a little run with the girls. from left: mari, erin, melissa, me
a rare occurrence during the summer.
side note--Presley took the picture, which explains the great view of
the cemetery to our right. love my little photographer!

my sister did my hair for the FIRST time at her school salon!
and my mom's too!
i am so proud of her!!!

Womens ECC SHINE event
{LOVE these ladies!}

my little darling after braces.
yes, i cried.
are you surprised?
yeah, i didn't think so.

i mean, seriously.
these two cannot come from my loins.
impossible.

Jordan {my nephew} is home from the Navy...briefly.
isn't he handsome?!
We are so proud of this kid! {i mean-- man!}

girls night out--Japanese dinner!
presley and her tongue-sticking-out face.
it never fails.

she does this day in--day out.
i hurt all over just looking at it. 

because i knew you needed a good laugh.
you're welcome.
{side note---i now see where presley gets that tongue-sticking-out thing from.}
yikes.

this totally may be our Christmas card. yeah, not kidding.
VBS at ECC 2013

oh the silliness never subsides.
i find random pictures like this on my phone...daily.