Ahem.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ME,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEE.

Yep, I’m forty today. And although people have been making cracks about aging all week, I’m pretty happy about it. The thirties were fine, but I feel like I’m just getting my feet under me and starting to figure a few things out. I’m looking forward to it.

I’m having breakfast in bed; then I’m going to ride both the horses, plant some flowers (I’ve been meaning to work on my flower garden ALL SUMMER), have a long hot bath, and then a midmorning nap. This evening I’m having friends over for dinner, so I’ll spend the afternoon cooking. Which I LOVE to do.

No work. But because I’m a geek, I’ll probably play around some with a novel I’ve been writing in my spare time. Fiction is fun (particularly when no one’s going to buy it).

Then, because my birthday requires more than one day to celebrate, Pete and I are taking my parents, my favourite cousin, and two of my oldest friends out tomorrow night to the Blue Talon, the best place to eat in Williamsburg.

Updates on work coming next week. For now…birthday wishes can be posted HERE.

Showing 37 comments
  • Basketmaker Amy

    Happy Birthday…and MANY more! I hope you have a wonderful birthday weekend!

  • sonja

    Well … on the day you celebrated your 19th birthday, I got married. So happy birthday! And as a virtual gift to you here is a list of unusual words that you might enjoy! Have a wonderful day. My experience has been that the 40’s are wonderful!

  • Juanita

    Happy Birthday, Susan! I turned 40 in April so I know what you are talking about. It was a bit of a transition for me but overall it’s been good. Hope you have a super day with friends and family!

  • Jennyfer

    Happy Birthday! Your post made me laugh!! I completely agree that birthdays require more than one day to celebrate. 🙂 I am 38 and am actually looking forward to my 40’s very much. It’s only been in the past couple years that I have truly felt like I know myself. I no longer have that “disease to please” and I have no trouble saying “no” when asked to do things. (I’m also a pastor’s wife so I get told, err asked, to do things all the time.) I figure if the 30’s were better than the 20’s, why shouldn’t the 40’s be better than the 30’s? Enjoy your day!

    BTW- I’m using The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Reading with my youngest. He loves it!

  • Susan in TX

    “Many happy returns on the day!” (as Pooh would say) I hit this landmark last summer myself and was shocked at how my body suddenly went into rebellion. Other than that, I’m enjoying the 40’s!

    May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.
    Happy Birthday!
    Susan in TX

  • Lyn

    Happy Birthday, Susan, and thanks for being a blessing to so many of us through your writing. Your birthday plans sound perfect!

  • Brandi

    Happy Birthday, Susan! It’s my birthday too. 🙂 Guess I’ll never forget yours now!

  • Mom2legomaniacs

    Happy Birthday! I hope it is relaxing, fun, and full of love. (I hit the same mark next month) I know what you mean about figuring a few things out. Enjoy!
    melissa

  • Monique in NJ ( M&M)

    Happy Birthday Susan! Have a wonderful day, I hope you enjoy your forties!

    Everytime you mention Blue Talon you make my mouth water.

    Have a great dinner and extra dessert for me!

    Monique

  • Joanna

    Happy birthday!

  • Emmy

    Happy Birthday Susan! I’m amazed at what you’ve accomplished by 40 – you have every right to ease into the next decade with confidence and anticipation. I hope you have a wonderful birthday weekend. 🙂

  • Trish Murphy

    Happy Birthday to you.
    Happy Birthday to you.
    Happy birthday dear Susan.
    Happy Birthday to you.
    And many more.

  • cm rudowske

    Happy Birthday!

  • Rosalind

    Have a wonderful birthday weekend!

  • Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks&Me

    Happy Birthday!

    It’s funny, I cried when I turned thirty but I LOVED 40. 🙂

  • Lori

    Happy happy birthday, dear Susan! Welcome to the 40’s club!

  • trina

    Happy Birthday! I turned 40 in February and I love it. I too am embracing my forties and feeling a little more free to just be myself and not worry so much about what other people think. I’m even letting a little gray streak creep into my hair! I know, I know, I’m living on the edge! Have a fabulous birthday weekend!

  • Monica

    happy birthday! horseback riding – that’s what I would pick to do too. gardening, not so much.

  • Nicole

    It’s usually nice when a birthday falls toward the end of a week. (Isn’t Christopher’s birthday tomorrow?)

    In our house it ususally takes more than one day to celebrate a birthday because I seem to have so much trouble getting the cake made on time (I don’t like the kids to eat sweets in the evening)!

    Maybe the chef will send you home something nice tomorrow.

    Happy birthday!

  • Staci in MO

    When I turned thirty, I said that if I learn as much between thirty and forty as I did between twenty and thirty, things will be great.

    I have four more years to find out…but so far, so good.

    Happy Birthday to you!

  • mary kathryn

    Susan, if you’re just now “starting to figure a few things out,” there’s not much hope for the rest of us!! I’m 45, and I am really loving the 40s. I feel mature (finally!), but not old yet. It’s a decade to accomplish a lot — if only I could move those teenagers out of the house!!

  • Rod Andrews

    Regret for the brevity of life comes not so much from the fear of death as from the realization of how slowly wisdom comes. Just when we begin to attain perspective, the lights go dim and the curtain falls. Fortunately or rather providentially, as the oldest creed of the church reminds us, it is but the first act of an eternal play. Just think how much knowledge and humility we will gain in the next thousand years.

    Happy Birthday

    60 in Atlanta

  • Miz Booshay

    Happy 40th Susan!!!
    You were barely 30 when I “met” ya….

    How time flies!

    Celebrate!

  • AmyL

    Ohhh, happy birthday to you!!! Hope you had a wonderful day!

  • Angie

    Hi Susan,

    Happy Birthday! I turned 40 in June (that is still a little weird to write) so welcome to the club! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

  • Amanda Read

    Happy Birthday!
    My dad’s birthday is tomorrow and my youngest sister’s birthday is on the 31st. We have birthdays in our family almost every month!
    🙂

    ~Amanda~

  • Charlotte

    Happy birthday and many happy returns!

  • Amanda Read

    I mean the 30th, not 31st – I can’t believe I messed that up!
    Haha…
    ~Amanda~

  • Virginia

    Wishing you a very happy (belated) birthday!!

  • Amy in MD

    Happy Birthday!

    Because of one of your earlier Blue Talon postings, my husband and I tried the Blue Talon while on vacation and really enjoyed it. Did you know if you order the chocolate mousse, you get to tell them when to stop filling your dessert bowl? My husband thought she was joking at first. By the third mound in his dish, he said enough. Mmmm. If you can get there one morning, we stopped in for a chocolate croissant and it was the best I had ever tasted.

    Another thing we did while in town was blueberry picking at Bush Neck Farm. Very nice farm with lots of pick your own offerings if you haven’t been there before.

    Hope you had a nice birthday weekend! Amy

  • Melody in IL

    Happy Belated Birthday!
    My brother-in-law, who is ten years older than my 49, tells me that I am in my “f-words.” (40’s, soon to be 50’s) He says he’s not to happy to be headed towards his “s-words.” (60’s and 70’s) Another unique way to look at it…
    The 40’s have been the best. Confidence and contentment at their peaks. I hope for that for you.

  • Nina

    Happy Birthday… may you have great fun celebrating… and many more to come…
    As I buy supplies to start my school year, I can’t thank you enough for guiding me and making it easy for me to focus on my kids and not what books I will be using. History is the favorite subject in this house (who would have thought a math geek could say that)
    I hope you have a fantastic 40th year!

  • Michaela

    Many Happy returns of the day! I hope you make your special day span the whole week!!!!!! (I joined the four OH!!! club last month too). I first ‘met’ you in 2001 when my now 16yr old was a 5th grader. We have since had two boys aged 6 and 4 who have both learnt to read with Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading and all of the WTM’s recommendations. I am just about to order WWE and get them started on that!
    Thank you so much for sharing your family’s journey, it has been such an inspiration to me (and the others I’ve recommended your books to.)
    Our family are from England where homeschooling is still pretty rare. We are fortunate enough to have to spend a fair bit of time in the US for business, so homeschooling for us has been a true Godsend and your guides invaluable.
    God Bless you all.

    PS Can I adopt your mum please 🙂

  • Trish

    Happy, happy birthday, Susan. If I accomplish half of what you’ve accomplished by 40, I will be well-pleased. You done good, lady! Enjoy your day and I am so glad you were born back on that birthday just a few years ago. 😉 You are a treasured guide/teacher/example/advisor to me (and all of us) on so many topics! Thank you. God bless you! May this year be your best yet!

  • Crissy

    Belated birthday wishes to you, Susan!

  • Wendy

    Susan, I’m late on the Happy Birthday wishes but they are no less sincere. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! From all of us, and with our best wishes for the beginning of a new decade in a most wonderful life!

    Take care,
    Wendy

  • Robin in Tx

    Belated birthday wishes, Susan! Hope you have a great year!

    Robin

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