so long 30's

it's official.... tomorrow i turn 40. i can sooo remember when my mom was 40 and thinking that was ancient. now i am at that threshold. thought it would be a tough milestone but it has actually turned into a celebration.

my last day of my 30's hasn't been terrifically monumental. scrambling to get mandy's hair and outfit just right for school picture day. getting the homeschool schedule ready for the day. breakfast with andi and rebecca at cracker barrel. sitting 2 hours reading real estate newspapers and watching the history channel waiting for new back tires to be put on the van. purchasing a new flute. taking mallory to our family doctor. matt's soccer game. running to 2 different pharmacies to get mallory's perscriptions filled. argueing with one of my middle school children why they couldn't stay up late to watch the saints' game on a school night.

like everybody's else's life.... the past 10 years has had some very amazing moments and extremely painful one's too. here's the highlights of why i think my 30's rocked.

* the arrival of mandy justine smolen. no one makes me laugh or shake my head in frustration as much as that gal. experiencing the world through her eyes has been an adventure

* being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. you might think that this is an odd thing to add to the highlight reel but cancer was one of the best things that could've ever happened to me. ("best" not meaning fun, joyful, and carefree. "best" in the sense that it grew me up and made me turn my face directly into the face of God) i think i experienced something that most don't until the end of their lives and it has given me a perspective on life and death that is burned into my soul.

* simply put.... relationships. shawna, rebecca, andi, steph, kris, karen, judy, bonny, christie, amanda, michelle, andrea, and the list goes on. my life is fuller and filled with so much laughter. a decade ago these women weren't in my world and now i can't imagine doing life without the bff, boss lady, dr.judith, or suga'loafs.

* bethel temple community church. i know the christian church can get a lot of bad press for being out of touch, restrictive, and judgmental but the tenderness, love, accountability, wisdom, compassion, direction, and grace i have received in this body of believers has brought healing and growth to this heart of mine. many moments i come stumbling into those doors beaten down by the world and my own inner demons and leave with renewed hope and a clearer view of who God is.

i'm sure there's more. heaven knows that there have been plenty of moments i wanted to throw in the towel and even though i hate to admit it, there have been too many times i've settled for a lesser version of who God created me to be. however, i choose to leave the 30's with big smile on my face.