Flirting with thirty!

As of last Friday, I am officially 29 with one year left to the “dreaded” 3-0! In my early twenties, 30 seemed so far away, but would mean my life’s adventure and thrill-seeking days would be over. I assumed post-twenties meant most of my “living” would be complete and life would take a turn to Snoozetown. I had this list of goals (literally, a written list) from college that I was trying to check off by the end of my twenties. Just to give you an idea of some:

1). Travel to 6 different countries. 2). Have a Masters Degree completed. 3). Run a half marathon      4). Get married 5). Write a nursing journal 6). Adopt a kid from Guatemala 7). Become a medical missionary 8). Buy a sports car

You get the point. I thought I needed every adventure to be checked off; married, with kids and responsibility meant a life with no excitement and personal enjoyment. I recall thinking thirty meant trading my car in for a mini-van, wearing the old school “mom jeans,” and days consumed with Cheerios, carpool, and diapers. As the sprint to 30 is here, I can tell you I still own the car I bought at 25 (an SUV with a car seat), I am not wearing mom jeans (but have adopted yoga pants with absolute gusto), and while diapers and Cheerios do make up a large portion of my daily routine… My life is anything but lackluster and certainly not void of adventure and fun.

It’s comical that ten years passed so quickly. Ironically, I thought time would slow down once you move past your twenties. Sadly, the last few years have partly been a blur. There are certainly still-frames etched in my log of memories. But, the days and weeks pass by in the blink of an eye. I’m actually TRYING to slow time down.  These are the years that are most meaningful to me; I wish I could savor and hold on to each second. Sure, there are days I long to travel alone, drink coffee in silence instead of having half poured on my shirt and the other half left in the microwave to reheat. There are days that mommy-hood takes it toll on my body; I have more boogers and food on me than in the trash can, and I feel consumed by all things little boy. But of all my 29 years, the last 3 have been the craziest, most eventful, faith-laden, educating, and joyous. The closer I get to thirty, the more appreciation I have for my life, my family, my Creator, and myself.

As I approach the end of my third decade, I have discovered more about who I am than I ever did in my early twenties. I have learned to wear many hats, be unapologetic about my “faults” (except to God), embrace my strong suits, and love other people exactly where they are. I have been stretched, shaped, beaten down, rejuvenated, and restored. And you know what? I’m just getting started!

Ive struggled, I’ve triumphed. I’ve lost my way and found it again with Gods love and guidance. I’ve peeled away layers of hurt and straight rock my emotional scars. I am okay not being everything for everyone as long as I’m being the woman God calls me to be.

I’ve crossed a couple of things off of my goal list, erased a few, and added many. I’ve realized that the world hasn’t seen the best parts of me just yet. Contrary to how I felt about myself nine years ago, I have lots to offer: to my husband, to others, to my little boy, to myself, and to God. No, my life didn’t go according to my ten year plan. But who cares? Being a mom is so much better. Writing this blog is so much better.  Being a seasoned nurse at Aflac is so much better. Marriage with Sam is so much better.

This era of life doesn’t mean my thirties will lack charisma and adventure. Far from it. I’ve developed new dreams for the next thirty years. While my list looks much different than my previous, I like this one so much more! Here’s to flirting with thirty!

1. Love myself: for every opportunity to grow, for every lesson learned, and for every good attribute that’s already present.
2. Serve God by serving others. Ask myself daily what I can do for someone else (by word, by action, by love).
3. Avoid focusing on the time ahead. Enjoy the present and find adventure in seemingly mundane.
4. Make new goals over and over again.
5. Make my health a priority.
6. Teach my children how to love Jesus and how to let Him love them in return. Also teach them how to love others as Jesus loves them.
7. Spend time with my family. Tomorrow is never promised.
8. Find gratitude for every piece of my life: the broken, the stable, the unwelcomed, the unexpected.
9. Love my man and love him hard! Decades from now, it will be just the two of us and I want a love worth fighting for.
10. Be a woman of worth.
11. Enjoy a good cup of coffee weekly (even if you have to drink it on the toilet while locking yourself in the bathroom).
12. Focus on making memories more than money.
13. Just be friggin happy