This week I turn 38 years old. The older I get, the more I tend to forget how old I will be turning. I keep thinking I am only going to be 37. Nope, 38. When I was a kid, I never seemed to forget how old I was turning. Like my son, who will be turning seven in less than six weeks (and could tell me this fact in his sleep), I never used to forget.

I could not wait to turn 16. I remember being at the DMV as soon as school let out that afternoon and standing in line to get my driver’s license. When I was 18, I was so proud to be old enough to vote in the next election. 38 just seems to be another year older. But today, in honor of my upcoming birthday, and since I couldn’t think of anything else to blog about, I wanted to list 38 reasons (in no particular order) why I am happy to be alive and to be having another birthday.

IT’S GREAT TO BE TURNING 38!!

1. coffee, ice cream, chocolate,avocados, sushi and pizza
2. going back to the Dominican Republican in November
3. hearing and seeing the funny things my son says and does
4. walks with my dog
5. cool breezes through open windows
6. having my back tickled
7. discovering something new about myself
8. discovering something new about God
9. taking a risk
10. sunrises over the Perquiman’s River
11. sunrises or sunsets anywhere
12. the smell after it rains
13. running a 1/2 marathon in April (if not sooner)
14. crying over something beautiful
15. eight (amazingly quick) years of marriage in November
16. being there for a friend
17. a friend being there for me
18. making some new friends
19. watching God work
20. being a family with my husband and my son
21. sitting on the beach and listening to the waves
22. thunderstorms
23. snow in the South (comes and goes quickly)
24. hearing a song or reading something that changes/inspires me
25. role-playing with my son….again
26. kissing the top of my son’s head and snuggling next to him
27. listening to my husband play with our son
28. laughing together as a family over something completely silly
29. video chatting with family far away
30. visiting family and friends far away
31. making soup when the weather cools off
32. putting the lawn mower away in the fall
33. taking the lawn mower out in the spring
34. pumpkin seeds in October
35. Christmas morning
36. the smell of cinnamon in December
37. memories
38. this spacious journey called life that I get the privilege of experiencing every single day