on my thirties

As usual, Gary has made sure I had a good birthday. He's so great at giving- both of himself, and of actual gifts. We had a great date night on my birthday, and I also had a relaxing massage this morning, a night out with my girlfriends tonight, and a day at Disneyland tomorrow! Whew!

I am thirty two years old. I am solidly in my thirties now, no longer straddling the line of being in my twenties.  And I am glad.

My twenties were a tumultuous time. There's no reason to go into details, but a lot of the decade wasn't particularly pleasant.  I made a lot of poor choices, I squandered opportunities, I hurt people, I had far too much self-doubt. There were some good and happy times in there too, but there's also a lot of regret that came from my youthful arrogance and angst.

My thirties may be a much harder decade so far, in terms of the "big stuff" of life that can be emotionally and physically draining. Marriage, motherhood, and the death of a parent. Big stuff that would have thrown me in my twenties. And yet, I feel calmer than ever. Peaceful and confident in my place on this earth.

I am a mama to two beautiful, healthy children. I am a wife to a loving, wonderful man. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt. I am a child of God, beloved by my Creator.

And I am content. This is a good decade.