Day 101 -- How Can I have a 40-Year-old Child??

Today is Mandi's 40th birthday.  I can not believe that--where have the years gone and how can I have a child that old?  I will be over this feeling by the time Jodi turns 40, but just for now, I am in a state of disbelief!  If I am going to have to admit having a child that is 40, then I might as well go on to say that said child has been such a blessing in my life.  I can't imagine a life without her--even when sometimes her distance from me in miles/kilometers almost makes me believe I dreamed her up!  Mandi has so much of her mother in her that neither of us can deny the other.  She has always been "in charge" in her mind which I fear she has gotten from me.  This has served her well though as she has a large family to be in charge of and handles the task with what appears to be ease--although I'm sure I'm not seeing all the hard bumps along the way.  She has been a rock for me during many occasions when I have had rough patches to get through--and I know I can always count on her to cheer me up if I need it.  Mandi has taught me so many life lessons that I should have been able to teach her but wasn't.  Her sense of adventure and risk-taking is something that doesn't come easy to me.  Her ability to see what is truly important and what is fluff in life is something else she has taught me to see more clearly.  It is not the things but the experiences that are important in life seems to be her mantra, and I like it and am trying to take it up myself.  She is such a wonderful mother and wife and teacher--her children are so lucky to have her as their mom.  A mother prays that her child(ren) will turn out okay and that their life will be blessed with happiness and fullness and lots of love--my prayers have been answered as I watch her life unfold and thank God for her.  I love you with all my heart Mandi and am so proud of you!  You are the Proverbs 31 woman and God will bless you for it.