Fifty

Today I turn 50 years old! I have such mixed emotions about this milestone. When I was 20 or 30 or even 40 if you had told me I would be raising 2 five year olds on my 50th I would have told you you were crazy! I know I am not the first to do it (my mother had a 4 year old on her 50th) Don't get me wrong - I love my kids and am so blessed to be their mother.
This morning I woke up early and had an hour by myself before the rest of the house woke up. I admit there were a few tears in that hour - at 50 you realize that you have probably lived more than half your life - but as my husband has been telling me - I am in such a good place right now in my life. I feel better than I have in years because of finding out about my food allergies and totally changing my eating. I spent several years in my 40's with horrible back pain and right now I can honestly say I am practically pain free. I have a husband that I adore and that takes such good care of me and our children. I have two beautiful, miracle children that God has blessed us with and that I love so much. I have such a large, wonderful extended family that are so supportive and encouraging and I have wonderful friends all over the world. My mom friends here in town are the best - although I am old enough to be their mother (most of them) we are walking together in raising our children and the support and encouragment is so needed.
So all in all - I am happy turning 50! I pray that this year and this decade will be one in which I can impact my children's lives - these will be such important years for their future and I want to be there for them each step. I want to be the best support I can to my husband as he works so hard for us and he is not getting any younger either :-) . I want to be there for my family to support and encourage them (and try not to be too jealous that most of them are becoming grandparents :-) ) I want to be there to walk with my mom friends as we walk through similar struggles and joys in raising our children. I want to be there for my church - to help bring Hope to a world that so desperatley needs it! I want my 50's to be the best decade of my life!

As my mom used to say - you are only as old as you think you are - and she always said she felt 36 - so I think I will stick with that age as well. I definetly don't feel 50 (whatever that feels like!) My hospital picture - approximately 3 days old
Yesterday with my princess at her friend's princess party