50

Yes, I'll admit it - I'm 50 now.

The toughest thing about being 50 is admitting it... I was quite proud of being "not 50 yet."

Even though you realize at 45 that your life is most likely at least half over, at 50 that becomes more real. Who lives past 100? (Who wants to, anyway?!)

It hailed and snowed on my 50th birthday. Good thing I'm not superstitious. I refuse to take that as an omen. Instead, I want to count my blessings...

I am strong and healthy.

I have a wonderful husband with whom I love to spend my evenings and weekends.

I have great kids who live too far away, so we never see each other enough, but we communicate as much as we can with all of our busy lives.

My mother is gone now but I am left with great memories of an incredible woman of God. I still have my father and 12 siblings and their families and feel blessed to have been given the gift of a large, loving family.

We have great friends and a wonderfully supportive church. If I were to list the people in my life that are a blessing, both here in Calgary and elsewhere, the list would go on and on, and I'd probably miss someone important unintentionally, so suffice it to say, we have an incredible group of friends and family.

I have a job I love - I can honestly say I love Mondays.

I have a relationship with Jesus Christ, who has adopted me into his family, and is working on me daily, to make me more like Himself. I still have a long way to go, but He loves me unconditionally and never gives up.

And so, as I look back over 50 years, I feel immensely blessed.