Turning 40.........

This was the year...there was no stalling it, I had to do it. I tried to convince myself otherwise but the days crept nearer and nearer and before I knew it I was on the verge of turning 40.

40

four-0

forty

4x10

Hmmmm.....I would like to say it didn't bother me one bit, but that would be a lie.

It did bother me.

I also felt empowered and very grown up.

My husband asked me what I wanted to do to mark the occasion.

I said "I want to go to henrybella's bakery."

He said "That's it? Pretty simple request. Where is it?"

I nonchalantly said: "Texas."

He didn't miss a beat, he just said "You should go."

So I did.

Did I mention that we live in upstate New York?

This was to be a road trip of the grandest kind.

And here I am at henrybella's with my sweet girls.

Sadly, henrybella's had to close shortly after our visit, but the owner and I share a birthday and she totally inspired me with her blog, her home, her writing, her baking, her dreaming and most of all her faith.

You can visit her at http://www.messythrillinglife.blogspot.com/

She has had lots of changes and continues to inspire me.

Here we are about ready to eat some southern style catfish and greens....

Turning 40 wasn't as bad as I imagined.

It still freaks me out a bit, but it is what it is.

My only option is to embrace it, right?

I have never been the driver on trips that I have taken, I am either with my husband or with Sharlyn and they prefer to drive and I prefer to read the map. Driving this far and this long on my own really was a turning point for me. I really can do anything I set my mind to. I felt proud of myself and kind of amazed and impressed by my bravery. I am so blessed. SO BLESSED. When I decided I wanted to take this trip it had to be low budget. LOW. Like almost no budget. It just so happenened that every 7 hours or so on the exact route I needed to drive to get to henrybella's was a family that we had traveled to China with when we adopted Lilly.They each met me with a smile and a cozy bed and warm meal.

These people have become family.

Bonded for life, and I couldn't be happier.

 So what started out as a crazy idea turned into a reunion with each one of these wonderful families. I never imagined the bonds and the laughter and the LOVE  that would occur between all of us.

Blessed, blessed and blessed.

I'll take 40 anyday.