My birthday at the beach.

Twenty-six years. Happy childhood. Pleasant adolescence. Passionate marriage. Three point five babies. Ups and downs, par for the course. I'm quite pleased, really, with the way things are.

I've noticed that I am getting older. I look MUCH better with makeup on than without. I have to work at maintaining my weight. I have a "mom" body with stretch-marks and tired bags under my eyes. I asked Duke why it is that men seem to age more gracefully than women. He said it's because they shave and it exfoliates. I said I think that the standards of beauty are just higher for women. Wrinkles and gray hair on men are distinguished.

Wouldn't it be weird to be a teenager with a mother who never aged a day? A mother that looked like a sister. Too weird. This is the natural order of things and I am learning to see the great blessings of a full life when I look in the mirror (instead of my growing, pregnancy double-chin).

I have a family that loves me.

And far too many luxurious comforts, simply because I was born where I was born.

My eyes and ears and hands. I've every opportunity to soak in the beauty all around me.

So much beauty.

Simply stated, It's good to be me at whatever age.


I hope you are enjoying the endless blessings that surround you in your particular, package-deal life, too.

Comments

Happy Birthday! You are an inspiration as a mother!
Natalie said…
Happy Birthday to you!

I have to disagree with you on the "men age better than women" thing. I graduated high school 17 years ago, and for the most part, all the gals look the same as high school. But the guys? They're pot-bellied, bald and puffy (thank you, facebook). All the guys I thought were SO HOT back in the day are being out-hotted by their wives. My husband doesn't look much like he did when we met. Good thing I love him:)
Megan Marie said…
haha Natalie, I hadn't thought of it that way before. I will have to check my facebook friends out. There must be a point when everyone starts to let the age show, guys or girls. So funny being human.
joolee said…
Happiest of Birthdays to you! Looks like it was a blast. And I must agree w/Natalie. My high school guy friends have changed ALOT. (I'm sure I have too, though...three kids later. But hopefully not too much.) :)
Teresa said…
So glad that you had a wonderful birthday celebration at the coast. You are blessed to be part of a family that loves to celebrate, and loves to celebrate YOU! I would, too, if I were them. :)
Happy Birthday!! And congrats on the new car...less worries is a great thing. PS your belly is so tiny!!