Saturday, August 25, 2012

29.

On August 16, this lady turned 29. Each year, my birthday sets me into a goal setting extravaganza! It's my own, personal, new year. This time, it's a big one! My final year before I add another decade to my bedpost. As I reflect on my 20's, I can say with a happy heart that I have met my goals, and am content with the life I build each day.

In my 20's I attended university, and graduated! I lived with some fantastic friends (Suzanne, you'll always be my favorite roommate (and soul sister, we've known each other since we were babies!) and I had some great ones!) sang along at many Cory concerts, and found myself as I explored the world outside of my hometown. I traveled to Europe and all over the states, many times with my best girl and favorite travel companion, Kelli. You think you know someone? Travel with them. It will either make or break you. Kelli and I grew together as sisters, and I cherish our friendship even more because of the memories we have had and continue to make together. I canyoned in the Swiss Alps, canoed many rivers, went Sky Diving, and explored the adventurist side of my spirit. I worked a great job that pushed me, and was guided by some women that I look up and admire (Jenn, Chris, Rachpal, and yes, even Dr. Myint, this is your namedrop!) I know I was a naive, silly, uncoordinated college kid, but those ladies developed my character, guided my decisions, and were truly some of the greatest influences for good in my life. Then, I married my best friend! Another of my fantastic roommates, Lauren, knew me so well she saw his profile on MySpace (gasp!) and immediately said, "this one is for you!" We decided to change the world together, and took our leap into the world, Austin, TX style! We adopted more pit bulls, got jobs that we loved, made incredible friends, and hiked as much of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and our favorite- UTAH, as we possibly could. Then, it was time for BABIES! Amali came just before I turned 26, giving me the title that I have always admired "MOMMA!" She quickly became our world, and soon we decided to put my career path on hold so I could stay home and raise her right. She is every passion that Mauro and I have, all rolled into one pretty girl! She has her daddies strength and determination, and my creative, bossy spirit. Three years later, we expanded our family again with a boy! Cinco may look just like daddy, but that sweet, loving, smiley kid got his momma's softer side. We are all one happy, crazy, and loving family! I have learned so much about myself being a mom. I learned that I love to write, I love to create, and I love to share the warmth of family.

So that just about covers all of my goals in my 20's. There are just 2 more specific things I want to accomplish before I am 30. I'm blogging them so I am pushed to achieve them.

First, learn ASL. Sign language has always enraptured me. Have you ever really watched someone speak with their hands and movements? It is combines creativity, expression, and rhetoric all into one beautiful package.  I took 4 years of it in college to satisfy my foreign language requirement. But I have lost so much of that from not practicing. So before I am 30, I want to be fluent.

Second, keep creating. Mauro got me an amazing camera for my birthday. Seriously, a dream come true. Cannon T4i, with 2 lenses. And, I have discovered in the past few years my serious love of the written word. So my goal is to explore both of those creative pursuits.

You know I can't finish a blog without praising my parents. They together taught me to be myself, to love others, to have standards for myself and those around me, to be happy, to stand for what is right and true. They are my hero and heroine, and in every aspect of my life I have been extremely blessed to look up to their wisdom.

So happy 29 to me! Hopefully in my 30's I will change the world! I've never believed World Peace was out of reach... it starts in our homes.




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