Saying Hello To 40
Today I am 40.
FORTY.
Dude. Can I still say dude? Actually, don't answer that because I'll probably still do it anyway.
Well, I'm writing this when I'm still 39. I imagine that tomorrow I will feel much like feel today which, like I wrote about last week, is pretty good.
I'm celebrating with many of the people I love most and missing some that are far away. My Mom's here. Paolo's here for a few days. Aaron's around. The kids are here. People are taking care of me and helping me celebrate and I'm letting them. That's a big step in the right direction for me.
Today I just want you to know how thankful I am for you. Thank you for being here and reading and supporting and signing up and cheering on and commiserating and asking good questions and encouraging and sharing and celebrating your own lives. Doing what I do has been a crazy, wonderful ride - one that I never expected to be part of my life experience.
Here's to many more opportunities to celebrate where we are right this very minute with open hearts.
Happy Birthday, Ali! I wish you the best birthday ever. Thank you so much for all the inspiration you've provided me over the years. Thanks for sharing your life and showing me that even the bad times are important. Happy birthday!
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Happy Birthday :-)
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Happy Birthday! I remember what a hurdle 40 was for me too. But the people around me made it SOOOO much fun that it ended up to be one of my best birthdays. I hope the same for you.
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Happy Birthday Ali. You may never know just how much you've mentored some of us through hard times and then discovering the good again in your classes! Enjoy the celebrations.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Now you're awesomeness is complete for me -- because you are a fellow November birthday-er! I hope that when you reflect on the things you've accomplished in your life so far (as I know you will, scrapbook storyteller reflection artist extraordinnaire that you are), that you will include that you have:
1) created a powerful, supportive, and uplifting community of creative individuals (actually multiple communities of this type)
2) sparked an infinite amount of personal life stories to be set down on paper and saved for future generations (I say infinite because you have such a ripple effect with your individual project ideas and story themes)
3) taken your kids on surprise trips to Disney "just because"
4) danced around the Christmas tree in the middle of the summer
5) rocked it with the new glasses
6) encouraged and inspired at least one person (but in reality this number is much bigger!) to live the best life they can and be okay with where they are on the journey.
Thank you for all that you give to the world. Here's to many many more years of Go, Ali, Go!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thank you for sharing your gifts with us. Your perspective and creativity have brought so much enrichment to my life and my own creative processes.
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Happy Birthday, Ali! Hope you have an awesome day! I wish you God's blessings and that all the goodness that you spread may return to you in many exciting and encouraging and fun and crazy ways ;) Thank you for being you!
Love from Germany,
Carolin
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I am thankful for your gift of being able to lead others in being story tellers, owners of their stories (good and bad) and capturing their life in words and photos. Thank you for being YOU - vulnerable, open, and inspirational. Happy Birthday.
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Happy Birthday Ali. I have enjoyed reading your honest, thoughtful writings and stories of your life. I love how you document your life, you have made it fun and easy again. I also appreciate the "realness" of your writings and photos. I don't find that in many Project Life type blogs. Have a great birthday.
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Happy Birthday Ali. Have a wonderful day and a fantastic year. Enjoy!
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I've already wished you earlier, but just noticed, for the first time, how much Simon looks like your Dad...those eyes. Thanks Ali for the life changing inspiration that you are.
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Happy birthday, Ali, to a wonderful new time in your life! What a special day in one's life! So happy that you have family and friends around you, you are so lucky! Two years ago I turned 40 too. It is wonderful and scary at the same time. I feel young and strong and full of energy and plans but, well, I am FORTY-two LOL I feel like that I finally arrived, that all the ways that I walked through my life were bringing me here. For me 40 is a wonderful place to be. I wish for you too. Hugs from Germany!
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Happy Birthday!! Have a great one!
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Happy happy 40th Ali. Love this family picture. What a treasure!!
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Happy Birthday Ali! Welcome to the 40s! May you be blessed with the greatest years of your life. Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us.
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I will celebrate 40 in just three weeks and I can't wait. I'm going to embrace it like it's my job!
Thank you for sharing all you share and letting us love you and be apart of your life!
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HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!! Jeesh...40...now that I'm 51 (HOW DID THAT HAPPEN???), 40 seems a looooong time ago, lol. But, 40 is good. 40 is great, in fact! I hope it will be a most amazing year for you & your family!!!
And a HUGE THANK YOU, to YOU...for all you bring to our world. Not just the scrapbooking world, but the WORLD world, as in Whole Wide World. The realness. The genuine-ness (is that a word?) The inspiration. The encouragement to be ourselves, and to celebrate the living of, and documenting of, the length and width of our lives :D
Have a SUPER GREAT Day!!!
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Happy Birthday Ali.
You are an all-around beautiful person. It was such a blessing to me to meet you at She Scrapbooks, and you have added so much enrichment in your 40 years to thousands of us.
Your story has blended with thousands of the stories you have inspired, thanks to the wonderful ideas and thoughtful ways you provide.
May this year be the start of continued good things along with many new wonders.
Paula
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Happy Birthday Ali! Enjoy celebrating with those you love.
When I turned 40 in 2011, I knew there was no way I'd get all those who'm I wanted to see in the same place at the same time, due to health issues, distance and life. Instead, I chose to see my 40th year as a whole, and in those 12 months managed to catch up with everyone from my family and friendship groups, in different places and at different times. It was wonderful.
Thank you for being you, and for inspiring me each and every time. Please keep doing what you do.
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Happy Birthday, Ali! Thank you for "gifting" us, each and every day of the year! Hopefully, what we learn from you and share back is our gift to you!
XO
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Happy birthday to you! Wishing you a year of happiness, health, growth, the length and width, and all the good that goes with it. Thank you, for the difference you've made in my life. Enjoy your people. And dude? It works. Michelle t
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HaPpY BiRtHdAy.... to YOU!!!
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Happy Birthday. You are special to so many of us. You are a great role model for so many. Have a great day. A great night. You were a beautiful baby and your parents are quite handsome. xxxoooxxx
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Happy, Happy Birthday, Ali! What a special birthday with special friends and family. Hope it's a good one!
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Happy birthday!! 40 is right around the corner for me, and I may be crazy, but I'm actually looking forward to it! One of my favorite Pinterest quotes (attributed to Kirsten Dunst) is "My favorite age is NOW." I admit, there are some things I miss about being younger (having my 20-year-old body back would be ok - haha), but overall I am happy with who I am becoming. I have fought hard for the wisdom, maturity, and perspective that I now enjoy, and I wouldn't trade it for anything! I've EARNED these wrinkles, baby! ;) Hope you're able to enjoy this step in your journey and celebrate well with your family and friends. You deserve it!
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