The older I get, the less I fear aging and the more I appreciate it.

I'm in my 40s now, and honestly, I love this season of life. There's a confidence that comes from having overcome hard things. A peace from realizing you don't need everyone's approval. And a joy from knowing who you are and what matters most.

This weekend we celebrated our Nana's 99th birthday. Because of dementia, she doesn't know she's 99. She isn't counting the years. But we are.
We see her daughter, grandchildren and now great-grand children she helped shape. We know the stories, the sacrifices, and felt the laughter and love. We see a life that has been incredibly full. And so we celebrated her anyway.

The Bible speaks to this in Psalm 92 “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green." ... even when memory fades, the fruit of a faithful life remains visible in the people and generations around her.

Aging isn't something to resist. It's a privilege denied to many. Nana may not know she's 99 - or who those little kids at the party are who kept making her smile, but her life reminds me that getting older isn't about losing youth - or even losing memories. It's about gaining a lifetime worth celebrating.