On July 24, 1969, a future mediocre karaoke singer made her debut.

Well, HELLLO 40!

I wasn’t quite sure what you’d look like on me.  Not much different than yesterday.  OH!  Was I supposed to compare to my 30 look?  Well then, I’ll be getting new hair next week so I’ll let you know then.  Yes, I’ve noticed those fine lines setting in a bit deeper.  Sigh.

I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.  I’ve determined to embrace you with grace.  But I’ll be honest, all day I’ve asked, “is it hot in here?”  Let’s face it—we already know my hormone levels are erratic.  I don’t need a boost in this area already, thank you very much.

I didn’t expect to embrace you with the new title of Nanny.  Yes I know I’ve been called Nanny for many years now.  It means many things for me.  But this year it will take on a whole new meaning:  Grandmother.

Now that we’ve been introduced, I’ll share my Bucket list of 40 things to do in my 40s so you can help make it happen.

  1. Become a grandmother (Yea, I cheated.  We all know it’s coming.)
  2. Listen more
  3. Share the love of Christ daily
  4. Make peace with a strong-willed child
  5. Get published
  6. Get out of debt and become financially free
  7. Teach my girls to become financially free
  8. Return financial blessings to my family and Joe’s
  9. Buy ocean front property
  10. Build the beach house of my dreams
  11. Sit on the beach again and again and again
  12. Put a message in a bottle and toss it out to sea (*Note to self:  You’ve always wanted time in a bottle—put thyme in a bottle with a recipe.)
  13. Swim without holding my nose
  14. Cruise the Bahamas
  15. Get laser hair removal
  16. Meet favorite bloggers (3 down!  Woohoo!)
  17. Get reacquainted with the art of cooking (Where have you been the past three years?  Oh yea!  Sophie arrived.)
  18. Write stories that bring life to people
  19. Rally my siblings and their families and take a family portrait with my parents
  20. Start playing cards with family again
  21. Become a Wheel of Fortune contestant and win BIG MONEY
  22. Travel the East Coast
  23. Help Joe prepare for and obtain his LA Adjuster’s License
  24. Cruise again
  25. Chronicle my Dad’s stories of “Tater Town” and write a best seller (at least for Pensacola, FL)
  26. Tap into the abilities the Lord has given me
  27. Exercise daily
  28. Take Latin dance lessons with Joe and film them for YouTube
  29. Take a Disney Cruise with the family
  30. Go on a missions trip
  31. Go to Israel
  32. Buy house plants that refuse to die
  33. Invent dog hair repellent
  34. Love greater
  35. Create a safe haven in the home
  36. As much as possible, be at peace with all men
  37. Learn something every single day
  38. Write a stand up comedy script with notes from Sophie
  39. Laugh every day (guffaw even)
  40. Walk closer with Christ (Saved the best for last!)

Thank you, Lord, for another year!  Here’s to growing older with grace.  And less facial hair.

From the words of Sophie Gunther, “and that’s all I got!”