29.

Since the Olympics are consuming all my normal night writing time, I decided to post three things today. I turned twenty nine yesterday. They day was nothing out of the ordinary, but it ended with so many sweet moments.

I woke up early as usual and walked five minutes longer than usual just to give myself a birthday bonus. Once Tim left, I set to work on my normal Wednesday chores and finished just before V awoke. She slept an extra fifteen minutes just so I could clean the toilets--what a peach. Once she woke up, all three of us set off on a baking adventure and made homemade vanilla cupcakes. (If you've never tried to cook with a 17-month old, I'd avoid it for at least a few more months. Her squatty body complicated the baking process more than I had anticipated.) The peanuts treated themselves to an early sugary snack for lunch while I waited for my glamorous evening party. A dear friend of mine visited me from Madison and took me to lunch. We came home just before Tim arrived from work and we quickly lit three candles and sang the old familiar birthday song. Mya thought it was her birthday so of course we sang to her too. The cupcakes were amazing and we all went to bed a pound heavier and with big smiles on our faces.

I love birthdays. I've had some pretty stellar ones in my days. I have the most thoughtful and kind family and friends who always treat me to wonderful experiences and gifts. I really can't complain. I honestly can't believe I'm twenty-nine. Where did the last ten years go? I have no idea, but I'm grateful for them. I am so much different than I was at nineteen, twenty-one, and even twenty-five. My world has been rocked by so many things that I find myself more open and accepting of things that I previously wouldn't have thought twice about. I am much more comfortable in my own skin and accept who I am while still pushing myself to be better than the present. I am honored to live with an incredible guy who for some reason sees beyond my crazy and loves me all the same, and I am blessed with two sweet girls who love me more than I understand.

Time is a funny thing. Since God doesn't measure time, I often wonder how he measures my life. I talked with him on my walk yesterday and told him how strange it was that although I haven't actually seen him in twenty-nine years, I can still feel his presence all the same. I know he is mindful of my life--my needs, wants, fears, tears, goals, etc. I can only assume he has measured my life by my growth as a person. He has seen me through disbelief, rebellion, repentance, and my current state--hopeful faith. Each phase has stretched me like a medieval rack; it has not always been pretty. But I am pretty sure he is proud of who I am today. And you know what...so am I.