Aging Gratefully

This weekend we celebrated my 32nd birthday with a good 'ole fashioned slumber party
with some of my very best girlfriends.  It was an amazing, relaxing weekend filled with
soul baring conversation and tummy aching laughter.  We ate until our bellies almost
burst, stayed up late into the night, and reflected on how lucky we are to have each other.
I can not imagine a more perfect way to celebrate my special day.

{Mandy, Summer, Liv and Belle, Meredith, Jessica}

As the years go by and our lives become more and more full due to growing families
and careers, these moments together do not come as often as we would like.  So, when we
are blessed with the opportunity to spend time together and have a night to just be silly
and free, we make the absolute most of it.  We always pick up right where we left off,
inside jokes flying across the room, secret code words and glances only we could
understand.  I am so blessed to have such amazing friends, to share this love with
women who love me for who I am.

We spent Sunday afternoon sitting around the dining room table, making jewelry
while Jessica's 8 year old son, Cade, played photographer and took a million photos of us.
I love these pictures not only because of the people in them, but because they are from
his innocent perspective.  This is our day, captured by the heart of a little boy watching
his Mama and his honorary aunts celebrate their friendship.

With each passing year, I become more aware of who I am and what kind of mark I want
to leave on each day.  I am surrounded by friends and family who motivate and inspire me
to be the happiest version of myself.  My life is not perfect and neither am I, but I am
wise enough at 32 to know that perfection is over rated.
Being yourself is always your best bet.