and this is love

On days like today I get overwhelmed with saying something meaningful. Often paralyzed, but that doesn’t mean that I am any less thankful. I am truly overwhelmed with what families go through after losing a family member, let alone losing a family member in the service while they are serving out country. I’m so thankful! We will never forget to remember and try not to take it all for granted.

Well, 29 is upon me.  Whether or not I want it.  And I think that I’m just going to embrace it with all I’ve got. 

28 was beautiful.  A year that I invested in me, lived out dreams and created new ones.  Tried to love with all that I had, failed, and tried again.  28 may not have looked how I anticipated when I was young(er), but that’s okay.  I’m happy with where I am, who I am, and why I am.  I’m proud, but hopefully not too proud. 

Whenever I write in other peoples’ birthday cards, I always say, “I pray that the year ahead is full of fulfilled dreams, answered prayers, and a whole lot of joy.”  And I can honestly say that I have prayed that prayer tonight for myself.  It sounds like it is all about me and getting what I want, but it’s more than that…it is about making dreams out of failures, praying prayers to let God answer them, and looking for joy in any place you can.  Its about being the best woman, wife, daughter, friend, co-worker, neighbor, boss I can.  And when that is too much pressure, cry about it, learn how to get over it, and ask for strength to get through it all.

I didn’t know what life would look like when I turned 29.  I didn’t think it would look exactly like this, but that isn’t a disappointment.  And because of that, I can’t wait to see what 29 holds for me.  And thank you for being a part of the joy in my life!

Now, I’m off to make a list of things I would like to do in the last year of my glorious 20s.  I’m old.