
It's my birthday today. Have you ever heard an old person admire their own beauty when they look at younger photos of themselves as though its some other person?? The first time I ever heard this was from my grandmother. I remember thinking it didn't sound vain. I think what she was saying more was 'look at how young I was.' She had the space of time to forget about what she didn't like about herself at the age she was in the picture and just appreciate the memory of a young able body. I'm sure she, like a lot of us women, undoubtedly had her own internal list of attributes she was less than fond of. After 5 healthy children I think a lot more about what I've gained (not pounds, but happiness) and less about what physical attribute is slowly going out the door. Life seems a healthy distraction from self.

I'm forced every now and then to take a look at myself 2 dimensionally and I do notice laugh lines that are showing up when no ones laughing and various other subtle changes. I hope I live to see and appreciate these images as really young portraits of myself. Right now they're the oldest me I've seen. I hope I remember how fun it was to take them, that my mom bought me that dress, that today we buried Jeff's great Uncle Morris and that it was a really beautiful service.
I like 35. It feels really, really young and optimistic. Happy Birthday to all you other summer babies out there. Be well!
xo,AM
Happy Birthday! Have a great day you look wonderful and that color is so nice on you!
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, I just stopped by to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Anna Maria, Happy Birthday to you! You are truly a living, youthful inspiration to us! Wishing you many, many more happy days to come! xo Laurie xo
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Baby (Yep, she's my baby.) There must be some mistake: my youngest certainly can't be 35! I'm glad you feel like 35 is young; I guess that makes it OK for me to feel like I'm still in my 40s on most days! Glad you're enjoying the dress; I can almost still taste that early birthday cake!
ReplyDeleteOh, Happy Birthday! I think laugh lines are beautiful and a sign of a life well lived! Hope you have a great day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anna Maria! Hope you have a fantastic day and you look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, you young'un. Maybe I'll finally cut into that beautiful chocolate lollipop fabric in honor of the occasion...
ReplyDeleteLisa (who's actually only 36 herself)
That color is great on you and you look simply fabulous! Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anna Maria! That dress is beautiful, and you are too! I can only hope I look as good as you do at 35, because I for darn sure don't at 28! I hope you have a wonderful day, your positive attitude is so refreshing to read!
ReplyDeleteThe happiest of birthdays to you Anna! I just LOVE coming by your blog each and every day! You're such an inspiration! Here's to many, many, many more beautiful and art-filled years! And here's to hoping I look half as hot as you when I reach 35!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! What a lovely picture! Both the photograph and the one you described.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, AM! May your joy increase exponentially with each year.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday AM! You look beautiful and may the Lord bless many more years upon you. Have a great birthday!
ReplyDeleteJess
San Diego, Ca
exaggeratedelation.blogspot.com
Happy day to you. I love your outlook on life!
ReplyDeleteit helps that you look like your 20:)
ReplyDeletei really like the optimism and foresight in the this post...
Happy Birthday Anna Maria. I hope the next 35 years are as wonderful for you as the first have been.
ReplyDeleteFelicidades on your birthday, Anna Maria! I can only hope to have such a joy-filled life when I turn 35! Hugs from Mexico.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anna Maria! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteΓειά σου
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anna Maria! You are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHronia pola, AM. Life is good.
ReplyDeleteMaligayang Araw! (Beautiful Day)
ReplyDeleteMaganda Ka! (You are beautiful)
Enjoy you day, your year, your life.
have a happy and nice daY****
ReplyDeleteParabéns, Maria ****
Opps, the first one should be Happy or Joyous Day. I was thinking too quickly ahead I guess.
ReplyDeleteGelukkige verjaardag!
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog!
Yvonne
from Antwerp/Belgium
Happy Birthday to another child of summer.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I'm a new reader and appreciater of your talent! I hope you have a wonderful day :)
ReplyDeleteYou are a beautiful woman, inside and out. I too cherish my body so much more now, since having given birth to two beautiful boys.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you! I hope you have a good time with your family.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely, contemplative post.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday.
Happy Birthday! I love your blog. You are lovely at 35!
ReplyDeleteWow, 35, 5 kids...I can only hope to look so fabulous! HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anna Maria!!! You are such a BEAUTIFUL soul - inside and out! And yes, we children of summer are very blessed! Big hugs and kisses to you!
ReplyDeletexo,
Kim
Ahhh Happy Birthday Anna. Since I have had the pleasure of knowing you in person so I can just hear you saying those happy things. Another wonderful post.
ReplyDelete:)
Sandi
Anna-
ReplyDeleteyou look awesome for having 5 kids!
would never guess you were 35!
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy - life just gets better as we become wiser and more talented with age!
Kim J
Happy Birthday, Anna Maria! Your insightful post was just what I needed to hear today!
ReplyDeleteOh happy happy birthday Anna! What a wonderful way to think of aging, your grandmother was right on. Now, if we could all jump on board we'd be all set.
ReplyDeleteOh Happy Happy birthday Anna Maria!!! You look great for five kids and for 35... let life keep giving you happiness and smiles! :)
ReplyDeleteParabéns!
Happy Birthday! I'm very happy to share my wedding anniversary with your birthday :-) Have some cake for me...
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Anna Maria!
ReplyDeleteHappy, Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Anna Maria! You have truly been blessed and you know it! All the best!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!!!!! 35 is so young...you've done so much-- much more than most 35 year olds! You are a real blessing to the blog community and it's obvious that you are to your family. I hope you took some time to celebrate being you today!!! We all love you Anna Maria!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anna Maria dear! You look radiant! I remember 35... it was 2 years ago! lol..We have a lifetime ahead of us and look at all you have accomplished, it only gets better! Celebrate those lines that appear out of no where..it shows your wisdom (at least that's what my mom says!) xo
ReplyDeleteyou look GORGEOUS and stunning in this dress!!!!
ReplyDeletehappy birthday, you beautiful soul.
ReplyDelete:)
Happy Birthday! You look beautiful! I'm a "summer baby" as well and enjoying your blog, thank you for letting me lurk from time to time.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday AM! Seeing that picture of you clearly makes me see where your Julianna gets her beauty from. I hope you have a wonderful birthday.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post! I love how you view life at 35, I want to have that outlook.
ReplyDeleteI turned 25 this year and it's been one of the best years for me mentally, I feel like I know myself so much better and I like who I am.
Thanks for sharing this, it was really a neat read.
Amelia
Happy Birthday!!! Your post today just really touched my heart. I just turned 40 and have been feeling a little "weird" about it. Your post put it all into perspective. Life is good.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is always so lovely! Thank you! -tami
happy birthday!
ReplyDeletemay some of your wishes come true - but not all, as there would be nothing to dream of then...
Happy Birthday Anna! You are beautiful!!!
ReplyDelete35, young and loving life! Here's to many more Birthdays to come!
Jill
P.S. You know who I think you look like - and I hope this doesn't offend you - I think you look like Ginnifer Goodwin, you know, Margie from HBO's Big Love? I think your both so pretty! :)
Happy Birthday! (You can never hear it enough!)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. Oh to be only 35 again!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!! it's excited when people truly celebrate their b-day instead of griping about getting old. Wishing you Many Many More!
ReplyDeleteAnna,you look beautiful.Happy Birthday! I remember 35.I liked myself as well.I was more sure of myself than in my 20's & I knew what I liked. disliked, was bolder & more content. Enjoy this time of life...it's like we found ourselves! BTW...the blue dress looks lovely.xxoo
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I'm in my 40th year, and it is a strange thing to look back at "past me" in pictures. I find that when I pass a mirror I often expect to see her reflected back, not the me I am today. Weird, eh?
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! You have the right attitude. Sorry to hear about your husband's uncle. Take care and have a great birthday!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on turning 35 Anna Maria! You are beautiful inside and out. It's true that we do get better with age. Perspective and life experience help us to accept our imperfections and embrace them as positive attributes!
ReplyDeleteYour blog and your words continue to inspire us all!
you are so beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anna Maria! Beautiful dress,beautiful you...and 5 kids wow, amazing!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a beautiful and talented person. Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday - yesterday. Hope it was grand and the pictures and dress are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAw, happy birthday honey. xo
ReplyDeletehappy birthday! You look beautiful! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWelcome to 35 -- it's fantastic! You couldn't pay me to go back to 20, even if I was younger and thinner (relatively). You are a beautiful woman with a fantastic gift for design and color. You are a mother who loves her children. You are strong woman, with all that implies. Celebrate yourself on your birthday -- I know I did, and can't wait to keep on celebrating!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I'm right behind you, and I'm constantly amazed at how young I still feel in my mid-thirties. Doesn't it make you feel optimistic about growing older?
ReplyDeleteNever knew when your birthday was -- so glad you didn't keep it secret. Happy Birthday! And that was a beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Heather
You are such a lovely woman. Wishing you an equally lovely year to come. Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteA very happy birthday to you Anna! And what a blessed woman you are with five children. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeletewow..you are so loved...so many birthday wishes...happy birthday to you too..you look wonderful...and, five children, congrats...
ReplyDeleteHappy, happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteNow, I must ask- where did you get that dress (oh please don't say you made it from scratch- I'd behappy even with a pattern!) It's simple and lovely. You look fantastic!
Happy Birthday!!
ReplyDeleteSheree
Happy Birthday. You are beautiful. Age will continue (trust me I turned 50 this year) but the beauty we bring from inside us with creativity more than makes up for any laugh line or gray hair. Enjoy your day.
ReplyDeletebelated JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE and heartfelt wishes all the way from France from one of your happy readers !
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! I've been away and just now catching up on unread posts. I love that you shared your portrait, the photos project a very soulful vibe. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I'll be 35 on Sunday, and have been thinking I really like the sound of it too!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I like your outlook....and thats a very pretty blue dress.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a happy birthday! "Life seems a healthy distraction from self" - I like that.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful year. [From another summer child - I turned 36 in June.]
Happy Belated Birthday........Beautiful photos!
ReplyDeletea belated happy birthday - I've been out of town. hope you had a wonderful day! :)
ReplyDeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteYou are 35 with five kids. I am single, 38, back at college to get a college degree, and start a new career. We are as young as we see ourselves. Therefore, we ARE young!
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