So I entered the earthside world on this day 40 years ago and precisely 3:15 in the afternoon at a relatively high altitiude in the Rocky Mountains! I have been of course pondering turning 40 for a while. One of the college students I work with asked me if I was going to have a midlife crisis. I had to chuckle! Nope I said, I am just making sure to remember all the parts of my girlhood that I loved and hold onto them!
I dig birthdays quite a bit and as I may have mentioned my love threw me a surprise party that was so unexpected and so fun last weekend, hence the "surprise" part of surprise party! But also a few months back I came across this print on Etsy and knew just how I wanted to honor turning 40. I wanted to re-created this print as a photo of me. The print represents so much of who I am. Not to mention that the title is "Looking Forward"! My dear dear friend Amy took the photos for me. She has been my rock for the past few years. A friend I know I will cherish and have for many of our years to come. You local folks, she takes fantasic photos by the way!

The print, the photo- this is what I am holding onto. What I know about myself is that I grew up barefoot, wearing dresses, playing with my dolls, under the trees in an old house with my parents and sisters that I love so deeply. My parents are awesome role models and my sisters constant friends. I can't really imagine my life without my family. It is part of what keeps me rooted in the midwest instead of going back to the mountains.

I was taught how to make things, how to grow things and play outside. Did you know my first playhouse was the old outhouse for the farm? More on that in future posts- and no it had not been used in years and had been moved and cleaned!
I grew up in the country in the midwest. I had cats often, my first was Sylvester. I loved my dolls, Priscilla was my favorite and I think I always wanted to be a mama. Mushrooms- well frankly they are food of the gods! I have drank warm cups of tea since I can remember and cry at the drop of a hat. Books are like candy for me! It is all apart of my roots.

So when I imagine myself as a 40 year old woman, I still can't help but seeing this girl in the mirror. Trying to keep her near my heart. Trying to learn from my mistakes- and oh yes there are plenty of them to learn from! Trying to mother the best I can, and honor and love my partner in life.
I am sure those braids will be turning grey (or silver as my boys like to say) but hopefully I will still be barefoot in a dress under a tree when I turn 50! "Maybe" I will part with this heirloom doll I treated myself to when I become a grandmama- hmm maybe!
So when you get ready to hit those milestone birthdays, don't forget that little girl that is a part of all of you- she is so much of who you are as a woman.

And as you know, I have a little tradition of gifting a present to one of you, my readers that I am so thankful for sharing this space with me. Since books are such a part of my roots, I want to give away a copy of the new board book version of Root Children. This is a favorite I know of many of you and now there is a board book edition.

Just leave me a comment between now and Tuesday at midnight and I will draw a winner Wed! Good luck my friends on this Friday the 13th!