Newlie

My birthday yesterday was so special. 34! I get awfully reflective on my birthday. Although so much of aging and motherhood can be stressful and exhausting, deep down I know that aging is just a sweet reminder that I’m still kickin’ (wahoo!), and that motherhood is both an INCREDIBLE blessing and a constant reminder to be my best self.

Days like yesterday remind me to sit, breathe, pray, sing in the car (Big Country 99.5 for the win!), and simply be grateful for all that I have.

And of course…I wrote my annual list.

This list grows by one each year – 34 now :). It’s my chance to celebrate a few little things that make me oh-so happy. I HIGHLY recommend it. Seriously. It’s amazing how gratitude puts your entire life into perspective. Especially on your birthday 🙂

1. Coffee with milk and honey
2. The freedom of having a few hours to myself
3. Red wine
4. Fire pits
5. The smell of a smoky charcoal grill
6. Old school country music
7. My daughter’s giggles and curls
8. My son’s belly laughs and hugs
9. How music so effortlessly brings people together
10. Motherhood
11. Steak – medium rare
12. Gratitude
13. My hilarious, handsome hubby
14. Unapologetic, contagious joy
15. Showing Emily & Henry the sunrise through their window each morning
16. Hiking
17. Reminders from parents of teenagers/adults that it all goes by so fast
18. How beautifully This Is Us captures life…all the feels…all the lessons
19. The clarity that running gives me
20. Thick cut applewood smoked bacon
21. The sound of laughter when it’s heavily snowing around you and you’re all bundled up
22. Surrounding myself with people who inspire me
23. Homemade anything
24. Hair down, makeup on, and wearing clothes that don’t resemble workouts/SAHM life for a change
25. When Henry & Emily give each other a hug
26. Wood fired pizza
27. Chardonnay
28. The relief of warmer weather
29. The anticipation of our upcoming house hunt, especially considering how obsessed I am with HGTV
30. Decluttering our home and life
31. A week long vacation (anywhere beautiful)
32. A gentle Oklahoma breeze in the summer
33. A clean house
34. The sound of a cozy, crackling fire