There. I said it. I keep referring to this year as “my big birthday year.” It’s hard to come right out with that number, though! I’d much rather say it’s my “Year of Jubilee!” But there it is. I’m turning 50 next week.

What is it about the big ones that cause introspection? I guess it naturally makes you think, “Am I where I thought I would be at this point?” and, “Am I happy with where I actually am at this point?” and, “What have I learned that I need to share with others?” It’s that last question that I’ll be touching on today. And by no means will I be covering every lesson I’ve ever learned!

1) God is faithful.

I think the #1 thing I’ve learned in my years, without a doubt, is how faithful God is and how important it is to spend time getting to know Him.

A common phrase I hear from others that would agree with my #1 is, “I don’t know how someone who doesn’t know the Lord can survive this (whatever the situation may be).” How does anyone get through loneliness, fear, depression, betrayal, loss, and more?I lean so heavily on the Lord. Reading, writing and/or listening to the Bible give me peace and comfort like nothing else.

2) Forgive and move on.

What’s in the past is done. There’s nothing that can be done about it, so put on your big girl panties and move on. Again, the peace God gives really helps with this. See #1.

3) Accessories can make you feel better.

I know I went deep, and now this sounds vain! Hear me out! I’ve done a lot of vendor events with my Lilla Rose Hair Accessories in the last 12 years and I see this happen repeatedly, however! A woman will be speaking negatively about herself or her hair, “nothing ever works in my hair,” “that would be great…if I could get it to work,” “my hair is too (thin/thick/curly/straight – you can insert a plethora of things here!).”

Then that moment happens when she tries on a Flexi-Clip and her friends start to rave about how beautiful she looks! She looks in the mirrors or at the picture on my phone and gasp! I have seen grown women start to cry. Women ask, “THAT’S ME???” Little girls’ faces light up with joy! All because they found the right accessory.

You can read my other post about the hair care products I use for my hair here.

4) We were made for relationships.

Forget the whole 50 years of life. ONE year alone taught the world how desperately important it is to have relationships with real people. I’m an extreme introvert by nature, but I forced myself to reach out to people that I knew were not doing well during the isolation of 2020. I knew that they were hurting to hear a voice, receive a text, feel a hug, and just know that someone cared.

I learned that even though I’m not naturally drawn to people, I had something valuable I could offer them, because introverts make pretty good listeners! Interestingly enough, I learned that I don’t have to be something I’m not, I just have to be me.

I read a great book last year called, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs YOU to be YOU, by Holley Gerth. I highly recommend this book for introverts and people who love them! It was my #1 book pick from those I listened to or read in 2022. I liked this audiobook so much that I bought the book, too!

5) God still speaks.

I know there are lots of poeple who say God speaking was for the Old Testament, but I’m here to tell you that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and if He spoke in the Old Testament, he still speaks today. All the different ways I’ve heard God speak would be for another post at another time, because that’s a big topic! But I’m here to tell you today: God still speaks. You just have to be quiet and receptive in order to hear Him.

6) Time with kids goes by way too fast.

Everybody says it. And really, it’s not helpful at all when you’re an over-exhausted mom with a newborn and a 2-year old. “Enjoy the time now, because it goes by so quickly.”

I mean, on the one hand, I feel like they’re never going to move out. On the other hand. my son is already a legal adult and my oldest daughter could legally get married in 2 years! Two more are already in middle school, and I do long for those days when Mom was everything to them.

Now, if I haven’t taught them to love God and his Word (see #1), then these years were pointless. There’s so much to teach them! I am beyond thankful, however, that we choose to homeschool, so I have been able to give them more of myself than I feel like I would have been able to otherwise.

7) Audio books count.

OK, they may not count in your particular Summer Reading Program at the library (no, I’m not bitter about that), but THEY COUNT! I wish I had realized this when my kids were babies! I would have gotten to so many more books!

I’ve been forced to spend 2 hours in the car almost every weekday for the last 2 years, and I am so thankful for audiobooks, podcasts, and recorded training sessions! I may not retain as much as if I’d been able to give my full attention, but I am retaining information, learning, and improving my listening skills.

My daughter finally wrote a book review for this blog, and we enjoyed this audio book immensely! Read it here!

8) People love free stuff.

This is all people, right? Doesn’t everyone love free stuff? Since it’s my birthday month, and I love to celebrate, I’m hosting a birthday party and giving away the gifts! If I get at least 100 entries on this entry form below, I’ll give out 5 prizes from my Lilla Rose Hair Accessories business and/or my Mary & Martha Christian Resources business!

Don’t miss the BIG points for my BIG birthday – Set up your Lilla Rose account** using the link on the Rafflecopter and complete my Google Form linked on the Rafflecopter, and those are worth FIVE points each!

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GIVEAWAY HERE: Sorry the form isn’t showing up… something about Javascript and WordPress that’s a little above what I can comprehend at the moment. Just click this link to get to it:

** If you already have a Lilla Rose account, please do not set up another one! If you have an account with another Independent Lilla Rose Stylist as your rep, please do not set up another!

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Welp, I guess that covers it for now; just a tiny drop in the bucket of things I’ve learned in my 50-year lifetime. I’ve got so much to be thankful for and proud of. I may not be exactly where I thought I would be at this point, but yes, I do believe I’m pretty happy with where I am. I’m absolutely not saying there’s nothing in my life that needs improvement, but I have peace and joy in my current circumstances, and I know that’s a rare commodity.