44

I am 44 years old.

My birthday fell on a Sunday. I was allowed to sleep late, despite my husband giving me a birthday kiss and the dog giving a few licks. A few minutes after 10 a.m., I was getting impatient, and hungry, too. But I was asked to wait until someone come to fetch me. I decided to read....

My birthday cake, erm, my laugenstange (pretzel stick).

After an hour, IC was given the honor to escort me to breakfast. Instead of a birthday cake, I got a freshly-baked laugenstange with candles. Sweet. There's a wide spread of breakfast items, amazing.

But my family have more surprises for me.

My husband and IC drove to our favorite asparagus farm to buy a bundle of fresh asparagus and boxes of freshly-picked strawberries. Asparagus is my husband's favorite and strawberries are loved by my girls and yes, it's my birthday but am already happy I got a laugenstange for breakfast :-)

Asparagus soup

Then dinner is ready. First came asparagus soup with sekt mixed with maracuja orange and a peach cake with candles. I baked the cake for my family and they placed the candles.

Baked asparagus

Then my husband's fave, baked asparagus with schnitzel and ham, a side dish of new potatoes. Asparagus recipe to follow.

Strawberries

Followed by my girls' fave, strawberries with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

I am 44 and I am not about to hide my age. The people who greeted my got to hear my real age. And am glad to hear them say that I don't look my age. Let me tell you, I don't feel my age, too.

There's no secret about it. It's my optimism, my outlook in life, and my faith. Combined with my family, my friends, my online friends... and yes, thanks to our dog, Rikki, who make me walk, jog, hike no matter the weather, and thanks to my girls who goes shopping with me and still borrow my things, the biggest compliment of all.

I am 44 and I am celebrating life!