As we close out the month of July, I find myself reflecting on the journey that has led me to this moment. The end of July, I’ll be turning 39 and instead of whispering that number with hesitation, I speak it aloud with gratitude and pride. I embrace it. I honor it. Because with every year, God gifts me not only more time, but more wisdom, more clarity, and a deeper understanding of who I am and what I’ve been called to do.
Approaching the big 4-0, I reflect not with dread, but with deep gratitude. I’ve lived. I’ve learned. I’ve failed forward. And with every challenge, every triumph, every quiet moment of growth, I’ve become more ‘me’. A seasoned woman with a story etched in divine purpose.
I am a Christian. A woman. A U.S. military veteran. A wife. A mother. A writer. Each role has shaped my perspective and stretched my heart. I’ve held joy and grief in the same hand. I’ve stumbled, but I’ve also soared. And through it all, God has been my anchor and my guide.
The wrinkles, the scars, the mental and physical stretch marks. I wear them like medals. They remind me of the life I’ve lived and the grace that’s carried me through. I don’t need to be the woman I was at 25 or even 35. She served her purpose. But now? Now I walk in the fullness of my becoming.
Here’s what I find worth sharing, especially with other women: Society has long conditioned us to hide our age, to whisper it like a secret or shave off a few years as if aging is something to be ashamed of. But I reject that notion completely. My age is not a liability, it’s a legacy. My children know exactly how old I am, and I’m proud that they do. I want them to see that growing older is a blessing, not a burden. That maturity is beautiful. That life doesn’t peak in your twenties; it evolves.
So as I prepare to celebrate my 39th birthday, I’m not just celebrating a number. I’m celebrating endurance. I’m celebrating identity. I’m celebrating the unfiltered, unashamed truth of who I am and who I’m becoming. And to every woman reading this: I hope you do the same.
Here’s to the seasoned ones.
Here’s to life in full bloom.
Here’s to 39 and all that lies ahead.