The Day after 30

The day before my 30th birthday, I caught the stomach bug that had been flying around town. It was a miserable 12 hours and I didn't know how "happy" my 30th would be. I woke up December 15th feeling great. Brand new. And ready to enjoy turning 30.

I felt fresh. Rejuvenated. Happy.

I never thought turning 30 would make me feel so wonderful, or that I'd be so welcoming of it. But the 20s kicked my ass and I was more than ready to start a new chapter and say goodbye to them. I am a woman. I know what I want. It took most of my 20s to figure that out and obtain it, and that's why my 30s are going to be great. I look forward to my future with the group of people I've collected within my 30 years and I plan to enjoy life like never before.

There was no big party. No grand event. But I had a lot of birthday wishes from friends, a birthday sushi lunch with two special ladies, went ring shopping with Tim (yes, for the ring)...no I didn't leave the store with one but I have narrowed it down to two fine choices. I'm waiting until the jeweler gets her sapphires in to make my final decision. Then it's up to him to decide when to get it and when to finally put it on my finger and make me the happiest girl in the world. After that, we finished some more Christmas shopping and had a fabulous dinner at Copeland's. When I returned to mom's to pick up the kids, she had a birthday card with my favorite gift inside (cash!) and Riley had hand-made me a card. I believe the last line said "you bring me so much laughter". It doesn't take lavish gifts or a outlandish party to make a birthday girl feel special...it's the simpleness of warmth and love and togetherness in life that make me happy. And I got that. Reading her card was the icing on the non-existent cake and I couldn't have felt more special than when I read those words from her. In the card, she also called me "kind" and "sweet" and told me not to be sad that it's my birthday. I asked why I'd be sad. She said "Because you are thirty." Bless her little heart.

I'm not sad at all. Because of her, Parker, Tim, my wonderful family and my incredible friends...I have no reason to be sad. Life is about people. And I'm so blessed with all my people. I may not have much to show material wise...but I have so many people that love me that I love back...and that's what matters to me.

Laying in bed before we said goodnight, Tim kissed me and said I can never say again that I'm twenty something. I told him I didn't care. As long as I get to age with him and all the other people I love I'll be just fine.

I feel being 30 is the start of a new chapter in my life, a better chapter, far better than the chapters before. I feel happy, blessed, and excited. I feel better than I have in a very long time. Realizing the simplicity of happiness is a sign of maturity. I don't really want for much and am taking this time to focus on the people that have molded me into the person I am today.

Goodbye 20s. I learned so much from you and believe me, I'll never forget you...good times or the bad. But it's time to thrive. And I think 30 is the perfect time to start.

Hello 30, my new friend...let's make life great together.