Thoughts on 30

In a month from Friday (October 20), I will be turning 30.  That number is a bit strange for me.  It’s not bad but just sounds weird after being in my 20’s for the past 10 years.  Most of my friends are already 30+ so that’s kind of nice for me. :)  I’m actually really looking forward to my 30’s as we are now out of the baby stage, we will leave diapers behind, and Lord-willing we will finish our yard and basement, eventually get a different car that doesn’t have a dented front bumper and a hole in the back bumper (ha ha) and there will be many new changes with our kids growing up. 

I am hoping and praying that as I enter my 30’s that I will leave all of the health problems behind that I’ve struggled with non-stop since last Christmas.  After having mono in the winter, I started having strange symptoms a few months later and found out in July that I have CMV (cytomegalovirus), which is in the mono family and can affect the body neurologically.  It’s a virus that just goes away on its own and most of my symptoms have gone away, praise the Lord, but it’s not totally better yet.  I haven’t been very vocal about it because some of the symptoms have freaked me out and resembled other illnesses and our culture in general is very good at feeding fear, so it’s not something I’ve wanted to post about on Facebook or blog about.  I don’t need everyone’s opinions or horror stories.  My doctor wasn’t concerned once the blood test results came back showing CMV, so I know I shouldn’t be, either.  I’ve shared details with people I know will pray for me, believe with me and encourage me.  Every day I have a choice to fear or to trust the Lord.  I continue to trust that He is my healer as I wait.

Back to turning 30: some people have made lists like “30 things to do before turning 30.”  I don’t have a list.  Well, not an official one, although maybe it’s official now that I’m putting it on my blog.  The biggest things I wanted to do before 30 were get married, which I did at 22, and be done having kids, which I was done at 27. There are a few little things I would like to do in the next month.  They are:

1. Go for gelati in a nearby town.  I’ve only been once before and the price was low, the portion was big and it was incredibly yummy!

2. Go to Ikea.  I have never been to Ikea and now that one opened up not too far away, I have scheduled a shopping trip there this month, yay!!  Even though I may not buy anything, I still want to go see it.

3. Go to a nearby bakery that I’ve never been to.  I’m a fan of them on Facebook, yet I have not even been there yet!  I grew up with the girls who opened it up in my hometown, so my friend from Capernwray said we gotta go there together.  Yes, my friend who is from the west coast has been there before I have.  It’s high time I go check it out.

That’s my simple list.  I love surprises, so I told Jared that I want him to plan something for my 30th birthday and surprise me.  I told him I would either like to have a huge party, go out with a bunch of friends, or maybe even go away overnight with some friends, although that last one isn’t likely.  He doesn’t really like planning things like that, so I really hope I’m not disappointed.  I told my girlfriends that I don’t want to turn 30 quietly, so if any one of you wants to help Jared if he needs it or check with him to see how things are going, feel free to.  I think each new decade is a big deal, so I want to celebrated BIG!  If it means having multiple parties to fit everyone in, I’m good with that, too.  I just don’t want to plan it.  Maybe that’s silly but I’m ok with silly.  I used to think 30 was old but now I know better, ha ha.  Funny how old just keeps getting older.  My grandparents are in their 80’s and don’t think they’re old, so I guess you’re only old if you think you are! ;)