Today is my birthday...Number thirty-five. It's funny the love-hate relationship we have with age. The wisdom that comes with age is a wonderful gift. I feel I know so much more about myself, others and the world around me and at large than I did at twenty-five. Thirty-five feels good! Those fine lines around the eyes and mouth, and the realization the bones will be losing their density and a multitude of other physical changes already happening to a body at the age of thirty-five, these are things to be reckoned with. Not young. Not old. I like this in between place and wouldn't mind lingering in the mid-thirties longer! Having my birthday at the end of the year gives me even more pause for reflection and thought. This year has been an up and down mix. A great many bright memories stand out in my memory of this year, as do a very few sad and difficult moments. And one is only thirty-five but once. Today I have a day to celebrate with Dear Husband and Charlie. I thank my wonderful parents for bringing me into this beautiful world, and I'm so glad to have my sweet sister who is also my friend, and all my family everywhere. I am thankful for a circle of friends, including all of you here, who inspire me, make me laugh, smile and think. Chocolate cake and champagne to have later today can also be added to the gratitude list! hehehe...No, I won't count wrinkles, lines or bone density...not today anyway. Today I count blessings, and they are many.
So cut your cake, and say,
"Instead of counting birthdays,
I count blessings every day!"
Beautiful thoughts on your special day, dear Tracy! Beautiful thoughts from a beautiful lady :)
Happy Birthday, Tracy! Big hugs :)
ps: I love your necklace. :)
Posted by: Isabelle | December 30, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Tracy wishing you a ~HAPPY BIRTHDAY!~
A lovley portrait of the birthday girl!
hugs NG xo
Posted by: naturegirl | December 30, 2007 at 08:05 PM
Happy birthday Tracy!!
Your portrait looks very beautiful:o)
Liked your thoughts on turning thirty-five. You are so right, this in-between-place is very comfortable....
I follw you in March ;-D
Best wishes for the New Year :o) Beginnings are always exciting.....
Posted by: Butterfly | December 30, 2007 at 08:22 PM
Happy Birthday, dear Tracy!! 35 is a wonderful age to be! May all the best be yours this year ... love & hugs, Lynda xoxo
Posted by: Lynda | December 30, 2007 at 09:02 PM
Happy Happy Birthday - you look TERRIFIC! I think 35 is a great age to stay at. I think in my mind I am still there! Lots to be thankful for.
Posted by: Annie | December 30, 2007 at 09:22 PM
Happy birthday to you!
I can fully relate with the insights in this post. I would never trade the wisdom I have acquired over the years, but the wrinkles I could do without!
I hope your weekend is filled with wonderful celebretion!
Posted by: Randi | December 30, 2007 at 11:37 PM
Happy Birthday Tracy...you look beautiful!! Enjoy!!
((WITH A BIG BIRTHDAY HUG))!!
Beverly
Posted by: tea time and roses | December 31, 2007 at 12:16 AM
joyeux anniversaire Tracy !
what a beautiful portrait picture !
lots of love on your way from France & hoping you had a great day !!!
Posted by: SierraMoon | December 31, 2007 at 04:28 AM
Happy Birthday, my friend! Wishing you a blessed 35th year ahead! And lots of love and {{warm hugs}}!
p.s. So glad you like the pin!
Posted by: clara | December 31, 2007 at 04:48 AM
Happy Happy Birthday Tracy! Thirty five suits you, you look beautiful and very content. Enjoy your age and the New Year to come. Wishing you all good things
Kimx
Posted by: kim | December 31, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Happy Birthday for yesterday. I wish I was 35 again but as Joan Collins once said 'Getting older is better than the alternative'. Now, in my 50s I can barely remember my 30s; the whole decade just seemed to whizz by. Enjoy your youth!
Posted by: OhSovintage | December 31, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Happy Birthday Tracy! Wishing you another year of happiness, good health and plenty creativity!!
Posted by: Evelyn Lum | December 31, 2007 at 06:56 PM
Happy Happy Belated Birthday! Thirty five is a fun age - I have enjoyed my thirties more than my twenties I think. And next year I get to find out what the forties are like ;-)
Posted by: dottycookie | December 31, 2007 at 09:10 PM
Oh Tracy, I'm so sorry I'm late for your birthday! Nevertheless, I wish you joy, wisdom, and much laughter, and may our Lord continue to bless you and yours during this 2008. One of the best things that happened to me this year was meeting you. Lovely person, and lovely YOU.
Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go (Brooks Atkinson)
Cielo
Posted by: cielo | December 31, 2007 at 10:24 PM
Happy Birthday Tracy! (Sorry I'm a day late.) What a beautiful photograph of a beautiful person!
Posted by: Susan | December 31, 2007 at 10:31 PM
Happy belated birthday! Glad to see another Sag out blogging about her age! Hope the champagne and cake was blissful! Wishing you a happy and healthy 2008!
Posted by: Maureen | December 31, 2007 at 10:56 PM
Happy Birthday!
35 was great year for me - I hope it will be good for you too!
Posted by: eva | January 01, 2008 at 04:50 PM
Happy Birthday Tracy - thank you for the sunshine that your blog brings on the gloomiest of days. I wish you joy this year and dreams that can come true.
Posted by: Alice C | January 01, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Happy Birthday! I didn't know we have birthdays so close. Mine is the 26th. Thank you for the reminder to cherish my hard won wisdom, and rejoice in all that we have gained. Hope your new year is all that you are wanting it to be. Love and joy to you.
Posted by: Laney | January 02, 2008 at 01:33 AM
*Happy Birthday*
Hope you had a wonderful day
love Alison x
Posted by: Alison | January 02, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Well, you snuck that birthday on us! You like content with your age in that photo, Tracy. Enjoy your 30s - I know you'll make the most of them! Hugs and more hugs :-)
Posted by: nikkipolani | January 02, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Happy Birthday ! 35 is such a great age. Hope the chocolate cake was good :-)
Posted by: Tatania | January 03, 2008 at 02:07 AM
Belated, but heartfelt, happy birthday to you Tracy. Like you, I haven't had the time to do my rounds these last few weeks, so there's a lot of catching up to do! You look lovely for one sooooooooo very ancient. ;-) 35 is a good age to be, so enjoy!
loads of hugs from me and many purrrrrs from the Bliss team!
Posted by: Yolanda Elizabet | January 04, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Happy Birthday! My birthday is 5 days earlier than yours AND 1 year earlier. So I just turned 36. Isn't it funny what comes with age? Sometimes I wonder if there are all these little things going on with my body now, how will I last until 70??? But there are so many good things as well. You put it so nicely in your post.
And look at you posting your pretty picture. You are skinny-minnie! :o)
Posted by: Linda | January 06, 2008 at 04:22 AM