My 40th.....here's the scoop

yesterday was my big birthday.......

the party part was fun, 

but i'm not that thrilled about the number. :0)

 but sometimes you just need a reason

 to get together with your buddies....

and your family......

my lil brother and his wifey

and people who have touched your life since your childhood.....

my mentor and childhood friend from across the street--now my son's principal

and you have to remind yourself 
that life is good

and age isn't really that big-a-deal.....

so you jump on the highest ride
 you can find.....

even though you're scared to death.....

with the ones you love......

and you realize that this isn't a free-fall.....

zach on the alpine slides by mt. rushmore

and going "up" is just as fun as coming down.......

 so you sit back 

and take a breather 

while everyone else is running by.......

to cherish
 this.....

this.....

this......

and this......

and you count your blessings
cause
 getting 
"older" 

isn't that scary....

when you have your peeps
to lean on.

love 
shows it's

face

once 

again......

loves this man

and when it feels like the world
 turns it's 
back on you
 .......

you find the beauty

 in the funny.....

(and he truly is hysterical)

and share your childhood 
dreams.....

the taffy shop in downtown keystone

with your sweet-hearts.

flowers seem to bloom
 where you walk.....

and storm clouds 
go away......

 cause you've found the good
 in everything around you

you start to sing 
a different tune......

ending the night with Mercy Me in concert at Hills Alive--awesomeness

and you're finally at peace....

loving the fact that my kids love to listen to and sing about Jesus.

with where you are in your life.

the people who have touched you.

and hopefully you've touched some as well.

and you know that

 this is the beginning.

not the end.

of 

something

amazing.

it's just another step

to something

beautiful.

i was reminded yesterday

by my smart older brother

that i may be ten years from 50,

but at least

i'm alive.

time to start seeing 

the BRIGHT 

side. 

today was a great day!

starting to get "over" the  "F" #.

life's just a beach

there's a feeling 

when summer feels as though it's just begun 

because the big things are behind us....

and it's time to relax.

 the feeling when nothing else matters but the water

and the sand

and your friends.

it just feels good to throw someone overboard 
and be able to laugh about it.

 and not having anything else to worry about......

like getting pink dresses 
dirty

and what you catch on your line makes no difference at all

siblings see things from the same perspective

and we make new buddies over the catch of the day

 

and life seems like one-big-splashy-ride

when winning isn't important for the first time

  

and being buried is actually freeing and satisfying

and then the sun goes down,

but not without pizzazz 

and friends are still around

then the next day....

you do it all over again

  
with a smile.

a 
really

 big 
one.