Milestone Birthdays ...I CLEARLY remember counting down the days until I was in "double digits" for my 10th birthday. I DEFINITELY remember my surprise 13th birthday party (my first co-ed party too). My 16th MONTE CARLO CARD GAME party that was bursting with people was also memorable ... as was the bright red 1980 Ford Mustang my dad got me as my present. I don't really remember my 18th birthday ... BUT I definitely remember my 21st. A close group of my college friends and I went to see one of the LOTR movies before going to Friday's for a few drinks. I also remember after 21 thinking, "well, the next big thing is 30 ... can't imagine where I'll be when I'm THAT old."
Well, let's recap what the last 9 years have brought: The "highlights" of my 20's: 22: got engaged, 23: graduated college, got my first "REAL" job, got married 24: Began my MA in educational leadership, took a Varsity tennis coaching job on top of teaching 8th grade 25: Took on a professional certificate program in teaching, learning and the brain on top of volleyball coaching, tennis coaching, teaching and my MA program 26: Kept up with all of the above?? :) 27: Got pregnant with our first child, finished my MA, finished special program in teaching, learning and the brain, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl 28: Taught/coached/was a mommy with a baby in day care, transitioned to full time Mommy, got pregnant with baby #2, worked part time with Add.a.lingua doing pre-school curriculum with ZCS, gave birth to my handsome Benjamin Steven RIGHT AFTER helping Coach Ipema and the team hoist the league trophy for Varsity tennis 29: Continued coaching tennis and raising my little ones and trying to balance the busy life of our family
When I was 21 there was no way I could have conceived of the crazy journey God took our family through. We had some amazing accomplishments and some incredible life experiences. I know, KNOW that God has some excitement up his sleeve for us ... I can't wait to experience it. But I also pray that He gives me peace to know that all of life has cycles of EXCITEMENT and contentment. It might be that the "30's" for me might be way less "exciting" than the 20's ... or at least "exciting" in a different way. I realize I have a lot of life to live yet, and lot of the things I've "dreamed" about doing as a child are things that God has already brought to pass in my life. So, now, I just get to wait in anticipation for the next dream He brings about ...