Another 365 Days Around the Sun
What Birthdays Have Taught Me
There was a time when birthdays felt like milestones.
Big numbers.
Big expectations.
Big celebrations.
But somewhere along the way…
they became something else entirely.
Not smaller.
Not less meaningful.
Just… deeper.
It’s the Little Things Now
When I look back over the years, it’s not the big parties that stand out the most.
It’s the moments.
A sunrise from my bedroom window…
a hot cup of tea placed gently in my hands…
a handwritten note at 5:30am before the day begins…
A daughter who pretends to go to work — only to show up at the door with arms full of surprises.
A son who writes from the heart.
A husband who fills my inbox with messages that make me laugh.
These are the moments that stay.
Not perfect.
Not polished.
But deeply meaningful.
Love Looks Different in Every Season
Birthdays have shown me that love doesn’t always come wrapped the same way.
Sometimes it looks like:
• A full day of phone calls and messages
• A quiet coffee date at a favourite café
• A movie marathon with snacks on the couch
• Takeaway dinner and no dishes
• A spontaneous beach trip
• Or simply… being surrounded by your people
And sometimes…
it looks like holding space for grief.
Getting Older… and Wiser (Hopefully 😄)
If I’m honest, I’ve had my moments.
Noticing the greys creeping in…
Struggling to stay awake through a full movie…
Realising my body doesn’t quite do what it used to…
And yet…
There’s a quiet confidence that comes with age.
A stronger sense of self.
Less need for validation.
More appreciation for what is, instead of what was.
I’m learning that growing older isn’t about trying to be who I used to be…
It’s about becoming more fully who I already am.
Gratitude Changes Everything
One thing that has remained constant through every birthday…
Gratitude.
For family.
For friendships.
For memories made across countries, seasons, and stages of life.
For the people who have walked alongside me —
through the highs, the hard, and everything in between.
There’s a phrase I’ve said often over the years:
“Blessed beyond measure.”
And I still mean it.
Today Felt Different
This birthday carried something a little heavier.
It’s my first birthday without my dad’s early 5am phone call.
And I felt that.
Deeply.
At the same time, Kevin was home today… not by plan, but because he’s been grieving the sudden loss of a young boy from his youth group.
Twelve years old.
Gone too soon.
So we found ourselves sitting in that space together…
grief on both sides… trying to make sense of it.
We were up late into the night talking, processing, just being with each other.
So when morning came, there were no big plans.
Just something simple.
Hotcakes, apple-pies and hashbrowns from Maccas… my favourites…
a sunlit couch…
and hours of conversation.
We sat there for nearly four hours.
Laughing.
Crying.
Eating.
Listening to worship music that somehow carried us through it all.
And in the middle of that… Kevin handed me a gift.
A beautiful new Bible.
In my favourite colour.
With big print — because he noticed my old one had become hard to read.
Such a simple thing.
But it felt deeply intentional.
Deeply seen.
Holding Grief and Gratitude Together
There was a moment today where it all sat side by side.
The ache of missing Dad.
The weight of a young life lost.
The tenderness of sitting with my son in his grief.
And yet… also…
The goodness of God.
The gift of time together.
The quiet peace that doesn’t always make sense, but is there nonetheless.
I’m reminded again that life isn’t either/or.
It’s both.
Grief and gratitude.
Loss and love.
Sorrow and joy.
All held together in the same space.
We Were Made for This
I think birthdays remind us of something deeper.
We were never meant to do life alone.
We were created for connection.
For relationship.
For shared moments and meaningful conversations.
And when those connections are strong —
life feels full.
When they’re missing —
we feel it deeply.
Because that’s how we were designed.
This Season of Life
These days, my perfect birthday looks a little different.
A slow morning.
A good coffee.
Time with my people.
Laughter.
Space to reflect.
Nothing extravagant.
Just… meaningful.
Another Year, Another Chance
Another 365 days around the sun.
Not just to exist…
but to live well.
To love deeply.
To show up fully.
To sit with people in both joy and sorrow.
To notice the small things.
To keep becoming.
And Then the Day Unfolded
As the day went on… it didn’t stay heavy.
It softened.
Andrew and Jasmine came home from work, and just like that, the house filled with warmth again.
Jaz had been quietly planning something special.
A home-cooked meal — my favourite… Pad Thai.
Snacks laid out for a cosy movie night.
And the kind of atmosphere that says, “you’re loved here.”
Simple. Thoughtful. Intentional.
And then… another gift.
A beautiful collection of family photos.
Moments captured with some of my nearest and dearest.
The kind of gift that doesn’t just sit on a shelf…
but speaks.
Of memories.
Of connection.
Of the people who make life what it is.
💛 A Full Day, Fully Felt
When I look back on today, I don’t just see a birthday.
I see:
Grief shared with my son in the quiet of the morning…
Faith holding us steady through it…
And love wrapping itself around me by the evening.
From hotcakes on the couch…
to home-cooked dinner and laughter…
It was never about doing something big.
It was about being surrounded by people who see you,
know you,
and love you deeply
And Honestly…
I feel so incredibly blessed.
Utterly spoilt.
And deeply, deeply grateful.
In Closing
Here’s to another year…
of deep conversations,
sunlit moments,
unexpected tenderness,
and a life that — even in its hardest parts —
is still incredibly, beautifully full.
Time is the greatest gift we have, who and how you spend it is the most precious use of it. Grateful to spend time together always ❤️
Great post Barb. Look for signs I’m sure your mum and dad are around for you glad you had a nice day hugs 🌺Annette