My fortieth year was fabulous, fantastic, and fun. It was filled with new experiences, new friends, great challenges, and greater love.
I tackled many new things as well as old things in new ways.
I swam hundreds of laps in the pool, rode the elliptical for many miles, and held many minutes of planks.
I learned to ride a bike, climb a rock wall, and dance a mamba.
I began a new career, started a business, and partnered with my sister to develop my web site.
I opened accounts with Squarespace, Twitter, and Instagram.
I wrote a blog, spoke to over 25 groups, and presented my ideas to audiences of children, teenagers, and adults alike.
I cut vegetables, cooked dinners, and washed dishes.
I hiked on trails, walked on sand, rode on chair lifts, and skied down beautiful slopes.
I traveled by plane, car, minivan, and Uber.
I ate dinners out, tried new wines at a vineyard, and even tried to like drinking beer! (Only for you, Brook!)
I saw Wicked at Ovens, Mary Poppins at Christ Lutheran, and Alice in Wonderland at Sun Valley Middle.
I pumped my own gas, swiped my own Red Card, and bagged my own groceries at Aldi.
I unbuckled a car seat, carried a 35-lb child, and happily buckled the seat again.
I donned a prosthetic leg, stayed overnight, and showered, all independently.
I ate over a hundred Poppy Seeds bagels, drank 52 bottles of Chardonnay, and had 700,000 cups of coffee (600,000 of which were prepared by a griping husband).
I made several versions of a chores chart, nagged five children about said chores chart, and paid too many dollars in unearned allowances.
I played Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus, defended their existence to a set of twins, and broke it to a big sister that there were no such things.
I had three surgeries, one hospital stay, and three newly-fitted prosthetic legs.
My "hands" broke exactly 181 times, and I got stuck to three grocery carts and five car doors.
I'm attempting to raise five children with manners, respect, values, and faith. I've tried to model strength, gratitude, and kindness. But most of all, I'm trying to love them as much as they deserve to be loved.
A huge thank you to those who have helped me survive and thrive to see the day that makes forty-one years of age.
An even bigger thanks to the One (God) and the one (Brook) who help me do all the things I love and love all the things I do.
And Brook, baby, you make me want to live to see forty-one more years.