My name is Rachel Brumfield, and I’m 40 years old.

That’s not a typical introduction, but one that I am proud to beable to make, having joined the 40-year-old club this past Sunday.This birthday was a time of reflection, as it marked a veryimportant milestone in my life.

I have now officially been with my husband Cliff exactly half ofmy life.

Our first date was on my 20th birthday at Harvey’s Restaurant inStarkville. Little did I imagine – although I hoped – that I wouldbe married and celebrating my 40th with him and our two beautifuldaughters.

My 30th year was one of both sadness and joy. My father died inFebruary of that year from lung cancer. Losing him was one of themost difficult things I had ever experienced.

However, there was also a lot of joy in that year as well. Ourdaughter DeLeslyn was 3 years old and our family was healthy andgrowing.

Ten years have flown by, which saw our youngest child, August,being born to our family.

We moved to Brookhaven six years ago when the Brookhaven-LincolnCounty Chamber of Commerce hired Cliff as executive vice president.We are thrilled to be in Brookhaven.

We believe it is the ultimate city for families and retireesalike. Our daughters have been welcomed with open arms into theirschool, and are so happy with the friends they have made since wemoved here.

We lost Cliff’s father this past February to cancer, almost 10years to the date that my dad died.

As I woke up to my birthday Sunday, I paused to reflect on how Ifelt about entering my fourth decade.

It occurred to me that I was excited to be turning 40. My lifeis blessed. Our daughters are healthy, Cliff and I are well, andour moms are both doing great. And to top it off, I had just beenhired as the new lifestyles editor for The DAILY LEADER, with myfirst day being the following Tuesday.

I look back upon the adventure that my life has been.

We’ve made wonderful friends along the way and have hadfantastic experiences raising our girls. Each day has highs andlows, with the majority being full of happiness and excitement.

So, as of last Sunday, I have been with Cliff for exactly 20 ofthe 40 years of my life. We agreed that we both look forward toshooting for at least two-thirds, or even better, three-fourths ofour lives together. What a pleasure it is to look to the futurewith anticipation of the great things life has in store for us.

With that in mind, I am proud to be embarking on my career asyour new lifestyles editor here at The DAILY LEADER. I amparticularly excited to be able to highlight the things that makeBrookhaven so unique and special. I also look forward to sharingthe next one-fourth to one-half of my life and experiences with youthrough this paper.

Lifestyles Editor Rachel Brumfield can be reached at TheDAILY LEADER at 601-833-6961 ext 134, by e-mail atlifestyles@dailyleader.com or you can write to her at P.O. Box 551,Brookhaven MS 390602.