My next thirty years...

Yesterday, I turned 30. Personally, I find age to be just a number. I hope I still feel that way when I turn 40. Leaving the decade of my 20s was not a dramatic thing for me, for the most part, but it certainly did cause some amount of reflection for me. In retrospect, I think the hardest thing for me about leaving my 20s into my 30s was the fact that I turned a "big" number, yet a "young" number still, without my mom. I really missed her a lot. I thought this birthday would be a lot easier. I'd already made it through my first birthday without her. But I feel like the idea of changing into a new decade without her was what made it difficult for me. However, that being said, it really was a very nice day for me. I have always loved birthdays. Birthdays were always a big deal growing up, and so for me,they still are.  When I woke up, as cheesy as this may sound, I said, "Happy birthday to me!" and I put on a big smile and decided I was going to enjoy my day.. And really, I did.
 I laughed hard throughout the day because I decided to be silly and laugh. (I worked hard, too. It was a busy Friday. But work and laughter can go together). I enjoyed hearing from a few old friends I hadn't talked to in a long while. And boy, did I eat delicious food. I enjoyed donuts, a cuban sandwich , a nice drink, and ribs....good food all day long. I received beautiful flowers from my husband, and some new running clothes. I really enjoyed the day. And the day was topped off with picking up our best friends at the airport!!!!!! That was a wonderful surprise and one I am cherishing all weekend long. And the weekend fun continues today , as my husband and I have decided to renew our vows. We've been married 10 1/2 years and we have been through a tremendous amount of life together already. We have decided to renew our commitment to each other, and I could not think of a better way to start my next thirty years. It was a beautiful, small ceremony. The weather was perfect. We stood under the trellis on which my mom's rose bush grows. The words were beautiful and our closest friends in the world, along with family, were all there. (minus my little brother and sister in law). We had a great time. It was emotional and beautiful and a great way to start my next decade. We then enjoyed great food and some fun outdoor games.
 There is a Tim McGraw song called "My Next Thirty Years" that has been playing over and over in my head all week long. Here are some of the lyrics:
I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I'm doing here
In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I'm gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I'll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years


In my next thirty years, I want to:
 -laugh more!
-Love my family in much stronger ways. Make them my priority.
-Use my "last thirty years" to impact the world for the next thirty years. I pray God can use my story of all I've been through in the last many years to impact lives for the future.
-Get my college degree as an occupational therapist. 
-Serve God.
-Write a book.
-Enjoy my motherhood and embrace my role as a wife in new ways. 


I have  more goals, but I'll leave it at that for now. It's been a beautiful weekend and I could not have asked for more. God is good and faithful -more than I could ever express. Having my best friend by my side today and having renewed my vows this weekend, is a small start of saying how good He is. Here's to my next thirty years....one day at a time!