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.

Progress

Since we bought our house in 2005, there has been a room in the basement, colorfully painted with pictures from the Lion King movie. They were very nicely done, but not the way I would choose to decorate (even a kid's room).

Finally, after 5 1/2 years, we've said good-bye to the Lion King room! It use to function as a store room/work room. But now we've turned the space into a play room for our kids with a little workspace for me. I love it! It's much more inviting and organized, which to me is very peaceful. We've totally cleaned it out and put Georgia's toys and books in there and hope to add some shelves soon for more storage.

Good-bye, Mufasa!

Shelves will go here - one up high between those to 'boxes' hanging from the ceiling and then another set will run down the length of the wall to floor in the right corner.

Georgia and I have really enjoyed spending our time down here playing, coloring and reading. Now we just have to break the habit of calling it the 'Lion King room' and start calling it the play room!

Princess Rella Barbie Georgia

Georgia is IN LOVE with all things princess. Especially Cinderella, whom she lovingly calls, "Rella." She was thrilled to receive this beautiful, princess Barbie dress in the mail; a belated Christmas gift from her cousins. She has worn it all day.

She is Blessed Among Two-Year-Olds

Last weekend we got to spend some time with our fam in Iowa City. I was sitting at the table next to my two year old niece, Claire. Her mommy told her to look at my belly and explained that Auntie Lacey was going to have a baby soon. Claire looked and then told me, "I'm going to have a baby, too!"

"You are?" I said. "Let me see."

She patted her tummy and solemnly said, "It's Jesus."

Go Figure

Did you read my last post?

Today as I put on Georgia's socks I said, "Georgie, do you love your socks? They're pink!"

She pointed at them and said, "Red."

Colors

We can officially color pictures without eating the crayons.


Speaking of colors...Georgia's favorite is pink. Are you surprised? She's a very girly girl. In fact, she loves pink so much that she will argue adamantly with you if you say something is not pink. Not kidding!

Yesterday she pointed at her bowl:

G: Pink.
L: No, honey, your bowl is blue.
G: Pink.
L: No, it's blue.
G: Pink.
L: Blue.
G: PINK!!!

At this point I usually give up. She'll get it at some point, right?

Today's Lesson

I like to share things that I'm learning or that have spoken to me. Usually it's someone else's words and wisdom that I just copy down. It's my hope that whatever has lifted my heart might also lift yours.

Recently I've been struggling with whether or not I have what it takes to be a good mom. Don't all mom's feel that way at some point? I know I'm not alone here! But when I started getting down on myself, God really convicted and reassured me through this particular devotion.

Here was the mom's devotional attached to 1 Samuel 1:21-28:

Have you ever prayed Hannah's words as your own? I have. Several times. Eagerly I've asked for God to take charge of my children. Out of fear that I might "ruin" them, I hand them over to him.

But as I give my children to God, I often hear him ask, "Do you really trust me with your children? Do you trust me to get them to school safely?"

"Yes!" I respond.

"Do you believe that I can guide them through an illness?"

"Of course!"

"How about deciding if they will marry - and who?"

"Better you than I!" I say.

"Then do you trust me to select the very best mother for your children and for who I want them to become?"

We can be the mothers our children need because God divinely chose us for the job. Don't doubt it. He knows what he is doing. And aren't we glad!