Well...it's my birthday.

Where did all the years go? I mean, where was 22...or 26? It's like I just woke up and realized that I'm going to be 28 on Thursday. I'm guessing it's because I spent my first couple of years as a twenty-something trying to pretend that I was still a teenager and thus allowed to make all of the ridiculous life-mistakes that I was making. Perhaps I just got into the habit of "being a teenager" and continued this silly practice until I woke up this morning and thought "Crap! I'm going to be 28 in three days...I'm an adult. (gulp)". You would have thought that the two rather short people who also live in my house would've clued me in to the adult part...but I suppose that there are plenty of "children" who have babies too.

Upon further reflection of my twenties so far, I realized that the greatest days of my life and my most important lessons have occurred in the past 8 years. I met and married my best friend. My best friend and I bought the best dog in the universe and managed to survive his puppyhood. We moved three times...one of those was across this amazing country that we live in. I gave birth to the two most beautiful children on the planet and thus learned what true, unconditional love is. I learned to actually cook and really clean (clean the way my mother always prayed I would). I learned how be responsible and how to be a landlord. I have been completely schooled on the mechanics and workings of an F-18C. A "good day" has changed from sunbathing and bar hopping to getting a good night's sleep and a family trip to Costco. My reading materials have gone from "Cosmopolitan" magazine to "Good Night Moon". I have traded a desk and computer for a kitchen and a laundry room. I have learned how to depend fully on the Lord for strength, companionship, patience, security and energy. In the process of learning how to be a mommy, I've learned how to be a better daughter.

It should be said that I'm still processing a lot of these lessons...so stayed tuned for my official grade one day.

I think when I get up on Thursday morning (at 6:30am, no doubt) and I am 28, it will be like a fresh start. It will be the first day of my new-found adult life and the happy march towards 30. "Happy march", you ask? I just figure that if so many wonderful things happened in my twenties...then my thirties are going to be amazing and I will happily march through life excitedly awaiting the big 3-0.