As I sit here at my desk in my kitchen and see my calculator that reads "80085" or, according to my 8yr old son, "BOOBS",  I hear my two beautiful, healthy, happy boys playing with each other in the family room.  I feel protected by the unconditional love I have from my husband and family.  I have everything that is truly important and so much more!

I will be 35 tomorrow.  Over a third of my life is over.  Sometimes that scares me or washes me with a sense of sadness but today I am merely enjoying the knowledge that I have had it sooooo good for 35yrs and am bound to have plenty of wonderful things to look forward to in the future.  This coming year, for instance, I will have both children in school every day.  Granted, the 5yr old will have half days but I sure will have a lot more freedom than I have had in over 8yrs!

One thing I am very happy about is how many dear friends I have acquired.  Many are friends I have met through my husband but they are mine now   I am not the type to say "this is my husband's friend".  I tend to try to make any friend of my husband's a friend of mine.

The old addage I learned in Girl Scouts "Make new friends but keep the old" has done well for me.  I am still close friends with my very first best friend.  We became best friends in the 4th grade and she has been like family to me ever since.  Other old friends have dropped in and out of my life but I never give up on them.

I am fortunate enough to have a sister who is also a great friend.  We have always been very close but I could never have imagined us being as close in adulthood as we are today.  The big shocker for us is we ended up marrying guys that the other one actually likes!  My sister is actually one of my husband's best friends.  Yes, reality is stranger than anything you could imagine 

I think I probably have the most giving, loving parents there are.  My kids certainly have the best grandparents around.  Again, I am fortunate enough that my parents are close enough to spend a lot of time with my family.  I realize few have that luxury.

I have a husband who never ceases to amaze me.  I remember day dreaming in my bedroom as a teen that I would go to college and meet someone unlike anyone I ever met growing up in my small town.  I sure did!  He keeps me laughing and thinking every day.  He comforts me and challenges me.  He's everything to me and I have been blessed to have spent the last 13 yrs with him.

I even enjoy my in-laws!  I truly lucked out there.  I don't enjoy many of my own extended family members but the in-laws make up for that nicely.  We've made some very nice family traditions that include my aunts-uncles&cousins-in-law.

So, the first 35yrs have been wonderful.  I couldn't ask for more.  I even have friends here at JU who have made my life more interesting and have helped sharpen my intellect and challenge the way I look at the world.  Thank you to all who have been a part of my life thus far.  I only hope I am able to reciprocate.