30

It's true.  I turned 30 yesterday, October 23rd.  Do I look different?  :)

I certainly didn't feel any different.  I've known a lot of people that have simply freaked out over turning 30.  Honestly?  It didn't bother me a bit.  Now had things in our lives not taken the turn that they had the past few months, I may have actually felt a little weird about it.  But turning 30 is truly the very least of my problems.  And even if things hadn't gone the way that they did, I don't know for sure that I would've been a whole lot different than I was:  pretty nonchalant.  Here's a few reasons why.  

At 30:

I have been married almost 9  1/2 years and been with Travis for over 10.

I have 2 beautiful children with another on the way.

We have a nice home that I really like.

I have genuine friends that I have been privileged to share my life with.

I have no divorces, drug addictions, abortions, or separations under my belt.  I don't say that being funny.  But at my age, I do see some of the craziness that people live in who are not any older and sometimes even younger than me:  lives literally wrecked with some of these things...and I've thankfully not been there.

I certainly don't know it all, but I've definitely learned a few things in my 20s:

  I've learned a lot about money and what is really unimportant.  I confess I have a pair of $300+ sunglasses.  They scratched just like a pair of $20 ones.  If they make it in generic brand, I'm probably going to buy it.  Target clothes and shoes are great.  I don't need excess.  Just enough.  I've carried the same purse for over a year now, a tad stained with bleach and all...although that metallic $200 Michael Kors purse at TJ Maxx did call my name a few days ago.  I smiled, sighed and kept going.  I will always get my hair colored.  That's not going to change.  Roots are bad.  Boxed color is even worse.  Sacrifice on other things is worth it to keep that up.  The best things in life aren't things.  Take care of the friends you have.  They are precious and rare and valuable.  I really try to do that.  I hope they can see that.  Don't worry about the people that aren't the friends you thought they were.  Love them, of course.  But don't be bitter towards them.  Forgive.  Forgive.  Forgive.  At their core, I think everyone really wants to be good.  Accept them at that even if you don't agree with them.  Children are the most precious gift in the world.  My children.  MINE.  If anyone or anything messes with them, it's gonna get ugly.  Spiritually, it has.  I'll never give up on that.  Or them.  They are my legacy.  They are my heart.  Even in our biggest disagreements and annoyances, I'd rather spend my life with Travis than anyone else.  He made my birthday special.  And my life.

So as for the specifics of yesterday, it was like this.  I needed groceries.  Exciting, I know.  But my best sweet tooth partner and I decided to stop and get a cupcake on our way to run errands.  He very randomly chose lemon.

 When Travis got home from work, he had picked up Sage and had my gifts.  I couldn't think of much I wanted that could be bought.  So he got me diamond earrings and these freshwater pearls on a leather necklace.  I was really surprised and pleased.  Both are beautiful.

 He'd also called several of our friends to go out to dinner at Yume.  Ideally, it would have been a surprise, but that just really wasn't possible.  A Tuesday night.  My birthday.  We never go out to eat, except maybe on Sundays, but that was okay.  If I look descent on any other day but...maybe a Sunday, there needs to be a reason.  It was so nice to be able to see my friends.  Jaggar wore this helmet before we left.  I don't know why.

 Little Sage.  My little socialite was so excited.  This was a different pace for us to get off our schedule with her, but it was fine.  She took 3 shots at the restaurant and never complained.  I believe God sees her positive attitude and hopefully it overrides my not always so positive one.

 I think that this is the only picture of me and Travis.  A crappy iphone pic in bad lighting. 

 All of my one day shy of 33 weeks of pregnancy glory. 

 My friend, Jill, was unable to make it to the restaurant, so she'd sent flowers that were waiting on me when we got there.  I can't tell you how much I love orange, so these were perfect.  So sweet of her.

 I didn't expect anyone to bring gifts.  It just wasn't necessary, but several did.  Jennifer got me that pretty pink and white glass bead for my pandora bracelet.  I'd just gotten a new pink leather bracelet from my mom so this was perfect because I had planned to do the bracelet in...pink and white!

Here are (a lot of) better pictures from Travis' camera from the restaurant.  Love my friends.  Notice Nick's (Dave's) face of disgust.  He was sad he couldn't sit by me.

Emily, Angelle and Taylor

Nick and Kirk

Jaggar, Lydia and Sage.  Both of my kids were SO thrilled that she was there and fought to sit next to her.  Jaggar claims Sage's friends for his own and is very offended if anyone tries to contradict that.

Wade and Suzanne

Jennifer and Elli

Pretty Davis Family

Luke and Heather

I never order off the hibachi menu, but it does make for a good show, so I'm glad most people do. 

This was Nick's favorite part.  Nick recently set himself on fire.  Literally.  He's okay thankfully, but I can't not rag him on it.  I wouldn't expect anything less from him.  He told me that he knew he should have let me die the day I passed out and fell on my face lol.  Glad he didn't.  I would hate to have missed the opportunity to make fun of him for setting himself ablaze. 

Rhenda and Parker.  Parker is just a few months older than Jaggar.  She is such a good little girl and so calm and still.  Like Jaggar is not.

My food.  Which I did not eat all of because I couldn't, but they had 1/2 price sushi so I had to try it all.

After we'd finished eating, they brought out the cake with 30 candles on it.  Literally.  Thank you, Travis.

Then they do this Japanese thing with a drum.  It's pretty embarrassing.

And they make you wear this lovely get up and sing to you in Japanese.  Then they take your picture for their main wall in the lobby.  I told them that I wanted mine in an 8x10.  I will autograph it when it is printed.

I have to confess that it took a bit of work to extinguish all of those flames.

 

They also brought out the swan made of fruit.  The fruit is SO good.  I didn't even eat a piece of cake because the fruit was it for me.

Then they said they were going to play something else and clap and I had to dance.  Well....OKAY.  If you say so.  That's the reason everyone is laughing.  A lot.

I'm not scared.

They wanted their ensemble back.  That was fine by me.  It was too concealing.

The kids had an absolute blast.

A group shot minus Rhenda.  I am really blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life. I had a wonderful birthday.  I realized how much I really NEEDED to go out with these people.  It had been a really long time for me.  I appreciate everyone who came so much and to Travis for putting it all together.  The 30s are going to be my best yet.