Today I’m 30. (*gag*) There. I said it. I may or may not have almost cried when I thought of my life already being one third over. Today, I’m embracing it and I’m going to reflect on my life so far. Here it goes…
My first 10 years:
I learned how to play the piano, how to ride a bike, got baptized, played endless hours of Rose and Julie with my favorite sister, danced to countless Beatles records with my dad, made a best friend and had some close calls with bangs. All in all, I deem this decade a success.
My next 10 years…
I got a camera and discovered how much I loved photography,
learned to play the clarinet, broke my arm falling off my bunk bed, somehow survived junior high school, played in the marching band, concert band, orchestra, jazz band and drum line in high school,
played in the Beatlettes with my friend,
“played” soccer (I was sooo bad, but it was fun! We may or may not have only won one game… due to the other team forfeiting),
went to music camps at BYU,
taught piano lessons, graduated high school,
got accepted to BYU, moved away and somehow survived my freshman year of college,
(singing “Wide Open Spaces” at our ward talent show)
(don’t be jealous of my overalls)
worked at China Lake Naval Base installing computers,
worked for my dad and got to relax in Pat Boone’s office (don’t be jealous),
got accepted into the School of Music at BYU, marched in the BYU Cougar Marching Band, met Jeremy, got engaged and got accepted into Music Education.
The past 10 years… my 20s:
I got married,
had a baby,
learned to sew, graduated college,
moved to Washington, bought a house, had 3 more babies, tried to be the best mother and wife I could be,
taught about 30 kids to play piano, took up running, ran a 10k, 3 half marathons and a full marathon.
In the past 10 years, I have learned more about life and about myself than I ever knew. I have gone through so many hard things. But I am so blessed. Looking back on my life so far, I remember having struggled, but I don’t feel the pain of the things I struggled with. What stands out to me are my accomplishments, the good times I had, the things I have learned and the relationships I have formed. Nothing is more important in this life to me than my family. I love my husband and my kids and I couldn’t imagine life without them. My sister, who I was frenemies with all growing up, became my best friend. The most rewarding part of running my marathon besides finishing was that I did it with my sisters (Kristen and Kimmie, I mean you too!). Sometimes I forget that I even lived before these last 10 years. 20 or even 10 years ago, I couldn’t have guessed what the next 10 years would hold for me. So what now? Who knows! Bring it on!
Here’s to my next 30 years!

