Well, on March 6? The day came and went without so much as a flinch from the universe.
Sure, my family and friends were fabulous! I got flowers, and cookies and wonderful gifts. And Skyler (who LOVES birthdays) was fantastic! (Ryan was on the road - but managed to make sure my day went well anyway! Besides, I'd had him home for Valentines day - which in this life? It's always one or the other for us!)
Skyler and I made a Snickerdoodle Trifle the day before and all the flavors had settled just perfectly by the time we got home from our Wednesday evening church activities! So she helped me light and blow out the candles. And all in all? My 30 birthday was fantastic.
I've spent the last two weeks thinking about my 20's, and all that I accomplished.
I got engaged. Married. Got my CDL and spend four years driving a truck - in which I was able to travel and see many parts of the United States! We went to a Red Sox game, and fishing in Canada (on a lake only accessible by Float Plane!)
My 20's also brought a lot of self discovery.
I completed 2 "365 Projects" - meaning? My camera was attached to my hip and I took a photo each day. One was entirely self portraits. (Yep, 365 photos of me! EEEK!) And one was a day in my life. (I will finish my third project in August 2013!)
I also completed a "Day Zero" project. A list of 101 items I hope to accomplish in 1001 days. (I'm now less than a year from completing my second project!)
I created a successful book blog. I became more involved in my local community. (Leading my MOPS group, participating in the Pueblo Newborn Hope luncheon.) I've found a church home that I love. And a group of fabulous friends who I wouldn't trade for anything. I learned to ride a motorcycle (although not very well...)
At 22, a month before my 1st wedding anniversary in 2005, I got a call that my Dad was in the hospital. He'd been relatively healthy, but battling pneumonia that wouldn't go away. Turns out it wasn't pneumonia, but rather a massive heart attack and it was a miracle he was still with us. Ryan and I drove all night to get home to Nebraska, where I stayed for the next month while we awaited an LVAD surgery.
Five months later my world flipped upside down again. My new husband? He left his job of 10 years with Boston Market and was getting his CDL. He was going to drive a truck. A TRUCK?!?! OYE!!
In November he was nearly finished with Truck Driving school in Lincoln and I was visiting for Thanksgiving. The morning before the big day, I was at my parents house. My dad and I were going shopping to prepare for the meal... But the phone rang. They had a heart. Thus commencing an insane dash to gather my family (my mom was in a meeting and un-reachable. My sister was in high school, where they didn't want to let me - her sibling - pick her up without a parent.) Then, just before midnight on the eve of Thanksgiving? We got word that my Dad was out of surgery and had a new heart. Another miracle that I will forever be thankful for.
Just two months after Skyler was born, my Grandmother passed away after a battle with Cancer.
And again, with just a few years left in my 20's? Tragedy struck again. My other grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She wasn't yet 70. (She's 73 now, and still with us. But Alzheimer's is something I would not wish on my worst enemy.)
So with all the ups and downs of my 20's? I can honestly say I'm a stronger person than I ever could have imagined. I'm sure not where I thought I'd be at 30. But I'm happy with where I am and where I am going. I'm optimistic that my 30's are going to be even better than my 20's! And I can't wait to revisit this post in 10 years to brag about all my fabulous accomplishments of this coming decade!
