30 Years...Just a Stepping Stone

Before this month is over, I wanted to commemorate my 30th birthday. My birthday was April 5, so it's a little after-the-fact, but 30 only comes once you know.

So my sweet husband gave me just what I needed for my birthday. Some "Me" time. I was queen for the day. He suprised me with a day at Sage Day Spa. He had the appointments all set up and everything. I got a facial(picture taken just after- sorry for the no makeup scare!), a pedicure and an eye brow wax.

It felt so good! I could certainly handle pampering myself like that every month if I could(or week really). To top it all off, I decided to splurge a bit more and got myself a double scoop waffle cone from G's Dairy before coming back home to the chaos.

So, wow! I'm really 30. I remember when 30 seemed so old. I especially feel old when I realize I can now say stuff like I've had certain friends for 25 years, or when I realize that I've known Justin half my life, or when I remember that I've been out of high school for 12 years and out of college for 7! I realized the other day that Jace will be graduated from high school in the same amount of time that I myself have been out of high school-13 years next year. That's old. I've also been noticing some fine lines and my body is definitely not what it used to be. Age will do that to you.

It's really put me in a bit of a reflective mode lately. I've been thinking a lot about what's in 30 years? What have I done with 30 years? What will the next 30 bring, etc. Sometimes I feel like I've got more life in my years than years in my life, and other times I can't believe some of the things I haven't yet experienced. So, I decided to write a few things down and realized that you really set your life up in the first 30- most of my goals and accomplishments were about getting me to this point and the next 30 seems to have a little different focus for me. True what the song says, "Just a stepping stone to where you are, where you've been. I'd do it all again."

I've had so many fun memories in my life that it's hard to love one certain time the best, but it was fun to think back on everything collectively. So just for fun, here's my list of 30 things in 30 years.

Random stuff done within 30 years:
1. Was born into this world
2. Learned all my basic skills of life (walking, talking, reading, writing, etc.)
3. Completed all primary schooling (Elementary, Middle School, Jr. High, High School)
4. Have only broken one bone- my finger (actually my sister Hollie broke it for me when we were in a fight over me wearing her lawn mowing shoes to mow the lawn?!)
5. Was a cheerleader for 5 years and have done gymnastics since about 2nd or 3rd grade. (I think I could still do a back handspring, but tucks- only on the trampoline these days.)
6. Experienced first kiss (and maybe a few more:)
7. Have snow skiied, water skiied, ice skated, roller bladed, tried snow boarding, wake boarding, boogie boarding, snorkeling, I've gone paintballing, rock climbing, repelling, fencing, white water rafting, been on rollercoasters, skycoasters, and water slides, have gambled, stayed on a house boat, got flipped out of a speed boat, driven motorcycles, snow machines, jet skis and 4-wheelers. {I'll try just about anything once.}
8. Have had long hair, short hair, curly hair, straight hair, colored hair, bangs and no bangs
9. Been through braces, boyfriends and breakups (and all the drama that comes with)
10. Was in a pageant
11. Worked at 8 different jobs
12. Been blessed with several true friends
13. Wrote a missionary for 2 years
14. Went to two different colleges and earned both Associates and Bachelor's Degrees
15. Have danced a lot- country dancing, social dancing, ballroom dancing, hula dancing, hip hop, cheer, been to too many dances to count, I've crowd surfed and have even been in the middle of a mosh pit.
16. Have lived with 23 different roommates
17. Seen inventions such as the Internet, Microsoft Word, cell phones, digital cameras, DVD's, iPods, texting, etc. come forth. Plus.....does anyone else remember stuff like renting a VCR from the video store- (maybe my family was the only ones deprived of not owning one).
18. I've been to dance clubs, fight clubs, concerts, plays, musicals, Broadway shows, rodeos, monster truck rally's, demolition derbies, college and professional sporting events and too many games and parties to even count. Plus have hosted or thrown several parties, bridal and baby showers.
19. Have never tried any drugs or alcohol
20. Have been a model, more than once. (I know what you're thinking- yeah right! I have modeled at a couple of bridal shows, once in a hair show as a hair model and at my old job (ad agency) I had to model my butt for an ad campaign and stand in as a Dr. using a medical device for my client's company collateral. Bizarre I know. Watch out Tyra!
21. Have been on TV (Channel 8 news at Blackfoot fair in about the 6th grade),
22. Have recorded 2 songs (once again, at the Blackfoot fair- some friends and I sang, I Saw the Sign, also recorded a song with fellow cheerleaders on a CD for the radio station, KLCE 97.).
23. Been to 12 out of the 50 states, but have never been out of the country or even on a cruise
24. Married my best friend/found my eternal companion
25. Have had 4 surgeries (1 tonsils out, 3 c-sections)
26. Had a career (Public Relations Coordinator @ a marketing/ad agency), then retired to motherhood
27. Have lived in two different states, 6 different cities, 13 different dwellings
28. Gave life to 3 human beings
29. Have sang karaoke, sang the national anthem at a game (not a solo-with all of the cheerleaders in H.S.), had a leading role in a play (Anyone remember my role as Sherriff Buford from 9th grade drama?)
30. Have owned 3 different vehicles and one home

There you have it. I feel like I've been around long enough to have been there, done that in some regards and have also learned a lot of value life lessons. But...I still feel like I have a lot to learn and do. I won't make you suffer through my list of things I'd like to do in my next 30 years though.