a wide place

I turned 44 years old at the end of January. I’ve learned to lower my expectations for birthdays because for the last few years it seems, we’ve battled sickness, canceled plans, and just general busyness. Plus my birthday happens in the January Slump. When days are dark and cold, the joys of Christmas are a distant memory, and we haven’t quite reached the hope of spring.

However. This birthday was different. It took us all by surprise. Because this birthday also happened to be a snow day!

Let me tell you about it.

David brought me coffee in bed first thing, which is a luxury (usually I settle myself out on the sofa with my coffee and Bible). I had a daydream of a leisurely hour sipping under the covers, cuddling with my dogs.

Don’t let the picture fool you — the dogs part happened, and they did not want to cuddle. They wanted to play! So to avoid spills we shifted pretty quickly out of bed.

Snow had been forecast all week, but we weren’t holding our breath, since we’d had an ice storm the weekend before but no snow. However, by 9:00, it began snowing! It was magical. David and Judah went on a four-mile run in the snow.

We had an 11:00 reservation for brunch at Tupelo Honey. I was worried they’d be closed but they were not only open, they seated us by the window so we could enjoy breakfast and watch the snow fall.

As we ate, David told everyone to ask me one question about my childhood. That was fun.

We spent a leisurely afternoon resting, walking the dogs, and learning that Judah didn’t have to work because Chick-Fil-A planned to close at 5:00 (can you tell we don’t get much snow here in South Carolina?), so he could spend the evening with us. Amie baked me a chocolate peanut butter cake. I even got to do some knitting.

I think that was the best part of having a birthday on a snow day: our entire family could be together for the whole day. A mother’s dream! Or, I should say, a mother-of-older-kids’ dream. As a mother of littles, my ideal birthday would have probably been to spend the day completely alone.

We ended the day with burgers and cake at Steve and Linda’s, and then an episode of Survivor Season 49 back home. It was cozy and relaxing.

I felt so special and known with all my text messages and gifts.

I received not one, but two bouquets of flowers with chocolate. Books. Plants. Fun shoes. A Barbados sweatshirt. A reading journal. A Psalms journal. A Sing hymnal. A fuzzy throw. Coffee!

Thank you, friends and family.

My dogs are bound and determined to steal my new fuzzy gold blanket, but I won’t let them.

Isn’t this hanging plant just stunning? I’ve never seen a blend of leaf colors like that before, but it’s my new favorite.

I must say, I am happy to be 44 years old. A couple of my friends turned 40 this year and expressed their worries to me. I told them that, thus far, my forties are my favorite decade. I’m more settled in who I am, more emotionally healthy and at peace, a bit more humble I hope. And like I continually say, I love parenting this age kids. It’s not easy, but it’s infinitely joyful.

Happy winter!