30 Things

The holidays flew by way too fast. I’m never ready for them to be over. However, they were wonderful and I have a whole slew of new and awesome memories like my mother swinging from a trapeze and getting her leg stuck in the safety ropes. Good times.

As the years have passed by, Christmas has evolved. This Christmas was like no other. The family has grown and we have little ones back in the house to rip open packages, break ornaments, demand playtime and be so adorable you can’t even be that mad when they wake you up at 3 am. It was fun.

I received some of the best gifts this year from people that love me. Too many too count. I had a mid-holiday move and managed to find myself overwhelmed and paralyzed in piles of ‘necessary items’ I’ve obtained over the years. To the rescue came my friends who packed all my prized possessions and then came back to help me move it and then help me unpack it, all while I whined about the lack of places to put it...which is still a serious dilemma. I also received some special attention from sneaky friends who left a gift on my doorstep for the 12 days of Christmas. I've never been so excited to come home or felt so appreciated. Who would do such a thing...really good people that like me, a lot. Nothing makes a person feel so loved more than a simple, out-of-the-blue, thoughtful deed, not to mention the excitement in the secret surprise! So wonderful. I don’t imagine I’ll ever find out who did this for me and I’ll never be able to personally thank or express how much it meant, but I have a feeling they know because that is the type of person who would do such a thing.

Now that the holidays are over, the family is all gone and my new apartment is all...well, mostly still in boxes, I’ve been reflecting on the past year as is customary. I could list out all the wonderful things that happened, all the hard times, lessons learned and all the other random joys of life, but really there are only more to come. What I am thinking about is where I am now and where I’m going to take the next year. As a rather significant birthday is about hit, the desire for reflection, gratitude and hope is increasing as I battle to overcome the daunting feelings this age brings. I want to insert a colorful analogy here for no other reason than I want to and I can because it’s my blog. It feels as if I’m called up in a really important game at halftime with no pads or helmet after warming the bench for a really long time. Yeah.

This year is unplanned and unsure. I can not tell anyone where I’ll be in the next 6 months. This is first time I’ve really ever felt that way, but I figure 30 is a good time as any for it. And, as for the benefits of reflection, I can certainly tell you how happy I am to have a family that loves to play together, friends that will pack all 125 pairs of my shoes without complaining and the joy of a gospel that reminds me these are the things that matter.

So, here is to 2011 and here is to being 30. Bring it.