Thirty.

Yesterday I turned thirty years old.  I had a little bit of anxiety was totally dreading the day that I reached a new decade.  I don't know if it's the fact that we almost bought a minivan a few weeks ago, or that I have a little one who calls me 'mama', but times, they are a-changin'.  I was talking to a friend the other day, and she was asking me if I'm struggling with my identity.  As we talked through it, I've realized for the first time, possibly, in my life, I am not struggling with who I am, or who I need/want to be, at all.  More than ever before, I am able to rest in my identity as a daughter of Christ.  So, all-in-all, I'm feeling like thirty is a good place for me.

If you know me, you know that birthdays are a really big deal.  I blame this 100% on my mom, because every single birthday was a bigger celebration than the last one growing up.  Now having had George, I can totally understand why the day of your child's birth is a major celebration, not only for your child, but also for you as a parent.  To some (maybe even Clay), the celebrations this year may seem a little excessive, partly because they're not even over yet.

They actually started last Thursday with a surprise dinner at Highlands Bar & Grill downtown.  Clay pointed out this year that it is nearly impossible to surprise me, which is such a paradox because I love to be surprised.  Maybe I should insert 'frustration' instead of the word paradox.  Anyways...I was SO surprised to show up to our reservation for 2 and find eight of the most important people in my life gathered around a table in the corner.

 Highlands' Sweet & Salty cake.  Favorite.

Clay and Saty switched out George since it was a girls' dinner.

Thanks for making this night so special!

Friday night we celebrated at the Cochran's house.  Drew and I have birthdays close to each other, so we celebrated both of our birthdays as a family.  Chase, Hank and George all wore their Halloween costumes, and they all had so much fun!

On Saturday, we had a birthday party at our house to kick off my thirtieth year.  Clay went over and above and planned the most perfect birthday party for me.  He invited my friends and our families, and it meant so much to me to have everyone there.  I did not take a single picture, but luckily my Aunt Marianne was there and now I have a disk with almost 100 pictures from this night.  Thanks, Marianne!

 THE best birthday cake.  Ever.

 My neighbor, Claire, and our boys.

 I forgot to get candles (my only job for the day), so we decided that it's my '1st' 30th birthday.

 Love of my life.

 What's a fun way to pass time?  BUBBLES!

 Clay and his dad.

 Thanks Lee Family for coming!!

 The Dynamic Duo.

These two need a name like the '3 Musketeers', or 'Sonny and Cher'.

Georgie loves his Uncle Scooter.

Finally, we had a Howell family dinner last night, as we watched some of the election coverage.

 If you're keeping tabs, this would be my third birthday cake.

 Snuggling George will never get old.

 Rogers helping me blow out my candles.

 George's first bowl of ice cream!

 George thinks Scooter is so funny!

He loves Aunt Erie!

I could not ask for better friends or a better family.  I look at the faces in these pictures, and I am overwhelmed with thankfulness.  I am thankful for the friends and family I have by my side.  I am thankful for a husband who leads me forward, and for a son who keeps me grounded.  I think my thirties are going to be the best decade yet.

Saty, George, and I are making the pilgrimage to Charleston, South Carolina tomorrow.  I know the car ride may be tough, but I know on the other side of the 7-8 hour drive will be friends that I can not wait to see.  My friendships from Charleston are some of the most treasured in my life, and I cannot wait for George to meet them too!  

I absolutely love old hymns.  I love singing them over George as I rock him to sleep.  I love the richness of the words in hymns, and lately I've loved reading them to understand more of their depth.  This is the last verse of my new favorite hymn, and my prayer as I go into this new decade.

"Haste thee on from grace to glory, armed by faith and winged by prayer.

Heaven's eternal days before thee, God's own hand shall guide us there.

Soon shall close thy earthly mission, soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,

Hope shall change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise."

-from 'Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken'