Later this month, I’m turning 45. As I look back on the last 4 decades of my life, I could never have anticipated the here and now.

Some of you know me, while others think you know me (or an older version of me), so I thought it would be fun to write out 45 things maybe you know, or think you know about me in honor of my 45th birthday.

1. I am a hopeless romantic.
2. I’m a mother.
3. I’m a Christian.
4. I’m a sinner.
5. I’m an author.
6. I’m the youngest of 3 daughters.
7. I’m a dog mom.
8. I’m a waitress.
9. I LOVE the outdoors!
10. My family is kind of famous, or we used to be. We have at least two towns in Missouri named after ancestors.
11. I write a family newsletter each year. It’s something my late grandma started in the 1950s. Each year since her passing, I try to get an issue out and send it to friends and family.
12. I have a Criminal Justice degree and a Crime Scene Technician certification.
13. I’ve been married and divorced, twice.
14. I want to live in the middle of nowhere with chickens and a big garden again.
15. I’ve dated the wrong people more times that I care to admit. Don’t ignore the red flags, ever!
16. I’ve been cheated on multiple times. See above.
17. I show grace and forgiveness. There’s no point in holding a grudge. Forgive and move on.
18. I miss my Grandma Libby. Sometimes I wish I could still call her and ask her what to do.
19. I want to get married again. My ex-husband might disagree, but I was a great wife and bonus mom.
20. I have learned so much about boundaries this past year. I wish I would have learned about boundaries sooner. It would have saved me a lot of pain and heartache in relationships, including with family members and professional connections.
21. I love wine and whiskey.
22. I discovered that I have somewhat expensive taste when it comes to the above, too.
23. I had a pen pal in prison. He’s not in prison anymore.
24. I love playing board games.
25. I love to organize. My house might need to be vacuumed, but everything has it’s place and I do my best to put things away. “Don’t put it down, put it away.”
26. I’m gearing up to speak on a healthcare panel next week. Eek! Wish me luck.
27. I’m the acting President of a referral group. I’ve met some amazing people over the last year.
28. I have at least 3 books on my nightstand that I’ve started but haven’t finished.
29. I hope to rescue more animals. Once I own a place again, I’ll want to get my dog a playmate or two.
30. I went to Space Camp in elementary school.
31. I’m a self-proclaimed graphic designer — thanks Canva.
32. I used to be a competition pistol shooter.
33. I love spending time with old men, but they have to be at least 85.
34. I have had to make very difficult decisions to end friendships that were no longer healthy for me.
35. I try to be curious and not judgmental. Tad Lasso said so.
36. I can be a procrastinator.
37. I will buy my partner flowers.
38. I have family members I don’t speak to. This one is tough, but as my friend Jami says, “sometimes you have to trim those branches for your own peace of mind.”
39. I love driving with the windows down and the music WAAAAY up sometimes.
40. I need to spend more time with my dog.
41. I am fortunate to have honest friends.
42. I want to be able to retire before 65.
43. I have relaxed a lot more about things that are out of my control.
44. I love life.
45. I had a hard time coming up with 45 things to say about my life. had to dig down deep for some of these.

Do you have a birthday coming up? While it was a little challenging to make this list, it was fun to dig into the brain a little and find 45 things to come up with.

Love. Give. Live.