Happy Thursday, friends! I’m back today after a two-day hiatus. I am going starting my morning off with a meeting – and I’m about to go through allll the emails from the last couple of days that I missed. Aaron and I decided last minute to join two of our best friends in Seaside, Florida for the long weekend and to celebrate some birthdays.
On Tuesday I turned 35, and I feel pretty dang good. This quote really resonates with me because it’s never too late to try something new. Each and every time I’ve put myself out of my comfort zone – I have never regretted it. And, if I could tell my 25-year-old self that, she wouldn’t have held back – or cast doubt on some of those goals and bucket list items. I also would have told myself that God has me – He knows my life – and He’s directing my steps – even if I’m not always sure what those next steps might be.
So, today, my first full day as a 35-year -old, I feel like I’m exactly where I should be in life. As this year has shown, it’s not always sunshine and roses: I’ve experienced loss this year, but I’ve also seen the joy that can shine through on the other side of that sadness and worry. So, let’s take a look at some of my favorite moments over this last year. But first, I’ll tell you briefly about the celebration.
The Celebration
If you’ve been reading here for awhile, you know that Aaron and I have some friends who we consider to be family. One of our best friends, Tyler, got married two years ago to Mariam. And Mariam and I just happen to have birthdays two days apart. So, when they invited us to Seaside this year to celebrate, we were on board. Aaron and I went for a short time because we didn’t want to leave the puppies too long since it was our first time to leave them. I’ll recap our whole stay in Seaside next week, but the weather was amazing, the beach was even better, and I left with my heart full. What a way to usher in the second half of my thirties!
We’ve got some dinner plans this Friday to celebrate the big 3-5 with some of my favorite people in Houston, and I can’t wait.
34 in Review
34 was good to me – let’s revisit.
I started 34 off by celebrating my birthday with my fam in California. It had been the first time I got to see them since lockdown.
Aaron and I closed on our house on September 14 of last year. We worked so hard for this house that it was an answer to lots of prayers.
We celebrated our first Halloween in the new house!
I exercised my right to vote.
I participated in the Boot Walk in November, which is a walk I try to do each and every year since it first began six years ago.
Aaron and I did Zoo Lights, which is one of my all-time favorite traditions each and every year.
And we celebrated our first Christmas in our new home! And, I got to decorate our home for Christmas.
My in-laws came to stay for a long weekend in January.
And, we made it to St. Louis to visit our friends.
And, in February, we celebrated my friend’s baby shower!
In March, we made it to Austin to celebrate Tyler’s birthday.
And, even though this is a birthday post, I can’t acknowledge this last year without acknowledging that March is also the month that we said goodbye to Sawyer. It was one of the lowest moments of my year, but he brought me so much joy throughout the ten years that I had him! Today, I’m in a better spot – I still have my moments where I griever his loss, and I remember his sweet smile daily!
In April we celebrated all things new. I needed a project to help me get over some of my grief, so Aaron and I got our yard back in order after the freeze. We did a lot of planting, and many of those plants (not all) are still alive.
I started tennis lessons in May!
And we headed to Belton and New Braunfels for the long, Memorial Day weekend.
In June, we celebrated Aaron’s birthday in Mexico.
And we picked up our precious puppies. These puppies have just been the bright spots in 34 – how cute are they?
We finished our house renovations in July. It was a practice in patience, and I walked away from the experience more educated – and more confident in my ability to handle big projects like that.
We went somewhere new in August to celebrate our anniversary, and I was reminded how much I enjoy exploring new places!
We kicked off my birthday month with a weekend trip to Canton with my MIL. More on that next week because I have lots to share!!!
Mixed in with these highlights of my 34th year was lots of working from home – and lots of other sweet moments with friends and family! I’m so looking forward to 35, and I’m glad that you’re along for the ride.
