Two Birthdays, Two Journeys

This week is a special one in our house—Roslynn turns 11 on September 30th, and the very next day, I turn 49 on October 1st. Our birthdays being just a day apart has always felt like a sweet little gift from God, a reminder that our stories are woven together in ways we couldn’t have imagined when we first met.

I’ll never forget how tiny she was the first time I saw her. Jim immediately nicknamed her his “little pocket buddy,” because he said she was small enough to tuck right into his shirt pocket. But don’t let her size fool you—her personality is bigger than life. She fills the room with her voice, her energy, her humor. She can twist her face into the funniest expressions and slip into voices that make us double over laughing. And as the kids say today, she gives “main character” energy and I’m sure she’ll be a boss of her own company someday. Last summer she made nearly $300 just selling homemade lemonade in our neighborhood!

And then there is her curiosity. She is the queen of “How-to” videos. When she was six years old, instead of watching cartoons, Roslynn would be deep into tutorials on how to make slime. More than once I’d stumble into the hall bathroom to find a bubbling lab of glue, scented soaps, and glitter. But maybe her quirkiest hobby, and still one of her favorites, is rock collecting. She can spend an hour with an old toothbrush, carefully scrubbing each rock until it gleams, before tucking it into some secret outdoor hiding spot so no one will dare throw it away.

We first celebrated her birthday as a family when she turned six—unicorn theme and an ice cream cake, of course. Now, she’s 11. The slime videos have been swapped for hair and makeup tutorials, but she’s still as funny, energetic, and full of life as ever. I think of last year’s trip to San Francisco for her 10th birthday—she was my travel buddy, full of excitement and fun. This year, the celebration is simpler, here in our new home. But in many ways, that feels just right.

And then there’s me. I turn 49—the last year of my 40s. It feels a little bittersweet. This decade has flown by, but it has been so rich. I married Jim, we adopted the girls, and just this year, we packed up everything and made the leap to our dream farm in Mississippi. This birthday, though, feels quieter. Jim’s return home got delayed, so he’ll be driving back from California on my birthday. We’ll celebrate together later, but for now, I’m holding onto gratitude, even if I miss him being here with us.

I don’t know what this year will hold, but I feel a deep sense that it will be one of growth. Settling into this home. Adjusting to this slower, steadier pace of Southern living. Watching my daughters step further into who they are becoming. And for me—learning how to let go a little, to enjoy the beauty of where I am, and to trust that God has more good things in store.

Two birthdays, two journeys. Hers just beginning, mine reflecting, but both rooted in hope, laughter, and love.

Here’s to my tiny daughter with the huge personality – I love celebrating us together – happy 11th birthday!