Thoughts on Thirty..........

Well, it's been a full 24 hours since I turned the dreaded 30 and I'm happy to report that I really don't feel much different!  Though I'm sure it will take some getting used to when I see it on paper or say it out loud, I'm hoping that in time I'll learn to embrace it. 

I don't really know why I've been dreading this birthday so much, other than the fact that it was only a few years ago that I thought of 30 as being "so much older" than me.  It really does feel like I JUST graduated from college and started my "grown up life", when in reality that was almost 8 years ago!  It just feels like in these past few years time has been passing much more quickly and I don't like that feeling at all.  As a teenager I remember feeling like time was just draaaaging on and I couldn't wait to be 16......then 18.......then 20......etc.  It felt like an eternity between those years.  Now, it feels like that was just yesterday! 

 

As I've pondered these things over the past few months, I've come to realize that even at 30 years old, I've lived a very full and blessed life and had more life experiences than some people have in an entire lifetime.  Some of them are good, some are bad, and some are just ordinary, but they all make up this wonderful life that I call my own!  Here are just a few, in no particular order......

• I've traveled through Europe and seen some of the most beautiful sights that you could ever imagine.
• I've traveled to Brazil and Ukraine for mission work and seen some of the most heartbreaking sights that you could ever imagine.
• I've fallen in and out of love.
• I've had my heart broken.
• I've graduated from college and worked in a rewarding career that I loved.
• I've learned what it means to take things for granted, specifically good health.
• I've come to appreciate the little things in life.
• I've found my Prince Charming and lived out my fairytale wedding.
• I've spread my wings and left the only town I've ever known to start my own life with my husband and in doing so, I've learned the true meaning of sacrifice.
• I've lived in (soon to be) 3 new cities and met friends that I would've otherwise never known had I not reached beyond my comfort zone and opened my mind to new experiences.
• I've knocked on death's door and felt pain, both physically and emotionally like I never could have imagined possible.
• I've been blessed with a beautiful, healthy, precious daughter who in two short years has taught me more about myself and life in general than I ever could have dreamed.
• I've learned how to find the good in every situation.  Even when it seems like there isn't, there is always always always something to be thankful for!
• I've experienced death.
• I've experienced new life.
• I've found a new love in photography and realized that this is where my passion lies.
• I've tamed (most of) my jealousies and insecurities that once plagued me on a daily basis.
• I've realized what a true friend is and I know who mine are!

Above all else, I have LIVED!!!

 

It took writing this list down for me to realize that 30 might not be so bad after all.  If my next 30 years are even half as full and as wonderful as my first 30 were, then I'm a blessed woman!

 

I woke up yesterday morning feeling overwhelmed.  As if turning 30 wasn't enough to take in, we're now in the middle of a major move for our family, complete with a new town to navigate, new friends to make, a new church home to be found, and the list goes on.  It would've been easy to start feeling sorry for myself and spend the day sulking around having a pity party.  Instead, I was treated to lunch by a precious new friend, mentor and sister in Christ that I met just a few short months ago through a ladies Bible study at our church.  Though she is old enough to be my mother, I truly believe she was placed in my life for such a time as this to help me through all of these transitions.  She is a military wife and therefore understands all too well my reservations, worries, fears and anxieties about moving my family to a new town.  As she so graciously allowed me to vent my feelings over lunch, I left our time together feeling refreshed, renewed and confident.  She gave me a beautiful bracelet as a reminder of my time here in Summerville and she told me that each time I look at it, I am to remember how much I've grown during our 4.5 years here.  It was the perfect way to spend my day and I am so thankful for this new friendship!

 

My little sidekick joined us for lunch.  Oh, and Prizey tagged along as well.  How could I feel anything but happy and blessed to see this little smiling face on my birthday??

 

 

She is my heart and soul and makes my entire life seem like a dream come true!

 

Since we celebrated over the weekend, I chose to stay home and spend time with my little family for the rest of the night.  I made myself step away from the laundry, the dishes, the computer and the ever growing to-do list so that I could just enjoy my two loves.  I spent time sitting on the floor coloring with Kyndall and doing other simple things that I often don't take time for.

 

Kyndall gave me a card and a beautiful bouquet of flowers

 

Kyndall served me some "take" (cake) from her play kitchen

 



Doing her "thumbs up"......That's how I feel about the day too, Kyndall!

 



 

It turned out to be a great day!  Thank you to everyone who took time to call, text, e-mail or Facebook me!  If there's one thing I can say for sure, it's that I feel very loved and I am not lacking for good friends in my life! 

 

Now bring it on 30!!!!!!  Show me watcha got!!!