Monday, October 8, 2007

30, 40: Age or State of Mind?

Well folks this has been a year of decade birthdays in my family. We start at 30 and run through 70 this year...

First to Matt (My wonderful bro-in-law) HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! He turned the big 4-0 on Oct 2nd. I am sure there was much partying to be had in Michigan last week. I am sure that he has been playing his new X-Box non-stop with my nephew. Love ya Matt!!!

Me- I have officiall hit the big 3-0, although I have decided that I am not going to grow any older than 25. So, really I am 25 for the 5th time. As I sat in my bed at midnight and cried in my birthday with my husband and dog snoring, I decided that I dont really have to get any older than I want to. I have also spent a good amount of time evaluating where I am in life and where I want to be. I have accomplished some of the goals on my list but not all of them.

Here is the list that I had for me to accomplish by 30...

1) Graduate from college: accomplished in 00 (B.S in Psychology and double minor in Religion and Human Performance (exercise physiology) from Judson College).
2) Married: accomplished on June 11, 2005 to the wonderful Sean T Hughes
3) Graduate with my Masters: accomplished in 06 (Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from South Western Baptist Theological Seminary)
4) Settled into a career: I am actually in my 2nd career. I worked in the recreation field for 9 years and have been in the counseling field since this past Feb.
5) Have 1- 2 children: hasn't happend (2 pregnancies both miscarriages)- Lord willing, it will happen soon.
6) Home Owner- hopefully this will happen next Spring
7) Start Ph.D: since I just graduated in Dec with my Masters, this has not happened yet. Sean is wanting to go back to school, so I will wait on this one. (My dream is to get a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology from Vanderbilt)

I know many people have told me to celebrate this birthday like I have never celebrated another birthday, but it has been hard. Several have told me this will be the best decade of my life. I am going to go out with a small group of friends tonight for dinner. I guess as I sit here I realize that turning 30 is not the worst thing in the world and it sure beats the alternative.

Some celebrating has already been done. Sean took me shopping last Monday night. He knew that I love to shop and that would be a great gift for me. He has said that there will be another surprise tonight so I am waiting on that. My mom came up the weekend before last and bought me a beautiful brown dress coat so that I dont have to wear my black leather with everything this winter. I went home last weekend and mom took me to Mikata for dinner. That was fun. We ended up sitting with a group of students from Rehobeth HS on their way to their homecoming dance. Saying that I graduated from Carroll HS, the team that beat them the night before, they were pleasent. Today Sean brought me chinese for lunch. So, even though I am not thrilled with the birthday number, it has been a good birthday. Here's hoping and praying for an awesome decade!