On Turning 30

It's true. Two days ago I turned 30. Turning 30 is a milestone. Some people were very worried about me, wondering how I was feeling about it and if I was okay or felt differently, and others took the 'what's the big deal?' stance.

I'll tell you that...I'm fine. There's something a little magical about your twenties, or maybe I should say delusional - you think you'll be in them forever. Trust me, they do come to an end. And because of that, turning 30 is just weird! But I am really loving this time in my life. I've been married to an amazing man for almost 7 years, we're growing our family and are loving parenthood. We enjoy our work/ministry and have great family and friends surrounding us.

In celebration of this event, Andy took me out the night before my birthday. It wasn't my birthday present, but a celebration of the end of my twenties. He sent me the following email on Thursday afternoon to prepare me:

I was thinking about you today,

And how this is your twenty’s last hooray.

I thought about how twenty-nine started for you so bad,

So I thought I’d help you end it feeling glad.

Tonight I’ve made plans

So be ready to leave

By five thirty five with our sweet daughter G.

She’ll need to be fed,

Or food ready to go

For I have someone to watch her until ten or so.

Don’t ask me what this night will entail

Or what we might do

This won’t be your birthday present, but it will be a clue.

As we go through the night

Pay attention to what we do

And when you put it all together, guess and I tell you “False or true.”

I love you completely

With all my heart and my mind

Tonight dress to match what I’m wearing

If wondering what to wear has crossed your mind.

You are the best wife

And the best mother of all

My love for you grows each winter, spring, summer and fall.

Enjoy tonight,

This night that’s the eve

Of you entering your thirties and becoming old like me.

I love you babe with all that I am,

Andy

So after we dropped off Georgia, we drove into Illinois and then back into Iowa for dinner and went to a movie. All clues to my actual birthday present: Illinois + dinner + theater= tickets to Circa 21, a dinner theater in Rock Island, for a show of my choosing. Hairspray is coming this June so I'm reserving my tickets for then.

On my birthday my girlfriends planned a surprise coffee date, pedicure and lunch out for me. The coffee and pedicure are postponed due to a friend's sickness, but we all had lunch and it was so fun to sit, talk, and laugh without kids. (Girls are just as giggly at 30 as they are at 17.) They gifted me with lunch, balloons, flowers, and 30 index cards entitled "30 Reasons You're So Wonderful."

I truly am blessed and I guess I wouldn't mind turning 30 every year until I'm at least 50.