30.
Whatever this dreaded fear of joining the 3-0 club is, I'm not getting it. I guess there's the reality that things are starting to break down, and I'm craving 10 hours of sleep at night instead of 6, and the appeal of filling life so full that it's hard to breathe is starting to lose its luster. But aside from the obvious, I'm actually quite excited about a new season, about leaning into the next few years.
There's a freedom that comes with feeling as if you know a little bit more of who you are at the age of 30 than you did at 20. And there's a freedom that comes with the acknowledgement that though you never fully stop growing and adapting and learning, you've done enough searching and digging and molding for enough time that it starts to feel as if it counts. There's a freedom that comes from feeling stronger and more confident and being able to release the idea that you have to have it all figured out and instead start to really live into who you are at present, who God created you to be. It's a gift.
So here I land, three weeks into 30, and I have been poured into so much in that time.
30 thoughtful little gifts from my family. Tasty cupcakes from a dear friend. Beautiful flowers from some of my very favorite littles. Cake and sweet prayers from my ComGroup.
And then these:
"Happy happy 30th birthday dear one! I LOVE my thirties. I pray you will continue to stretch into the full potential of who God made you to be."
"May the Lord grant you a year of unexpected gifts."
"Happy birthday friend! Hope it involves a bowl of ice cream as big as your face!" (by one who knows me a little too well!)
"So thankful for your friendship and praying today will be full of love and blessings. Hopeful for the good things to come in year 30!"
And on and on. And those words are exactly what I think everyone should hear most on their 30th. Words of encouragement and excitement and "the best is ahead".
I also stumbled upon this as I was forming these thoughts. It's raw and it's real, and I don't feel like the anti-aging parts represent me at all, but it speaks of being known and loved as we are, and I am soaking in these lines:
The point is that your life is meant to be spent.
You have to let your life wrinkle. You have to let hope get into the fold of things. You are here to be spent. Saving yourself up isn't how the saved are meant to live.
There are days in which I toy with the idea of a safe, contained life, of this "saving myself up". A normal schedule, a larger budget, an 8-5 job. Career success in artistic endeavors. Owning a nice home. Buying furniture that actually matches! A nice, clean, cookie-cutter existence does at times appeal. But when I compare those things to this "me" that I know, well, there's no real comparison at all. (Read: NOT a knock on those who choose those things; it's just not me.) I am unconventional, I am appalled at white picket fences, and I would feel trapped working 8-5 in a high-rise office building and attaining a larger-than-life paycheck. But this idea of spending life, of using life, of growing and aging into who God created us to be – that I can get behind. The idea that it is enough to just be known – by ourselves and by others.
Life is meant to be spent!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Loving the springtime weather and activity around here. So many fun things to be apart of, so many new things to try out, so many signs of God's presence.
Joined a hilariously fun crew in our 80's gear for the Girls Just Want to Have Fun 5k. Our first race of the BCS Marathon Race Series, and it was a huge hit! Over 1,000 women came out for the morning; our awesome group of all-men volunteers served the ladies and helped with chocolate fountains, course directing, costume judging, and handing out roses at the finish line. We're excited to build on this race for years to come.
Made a trip to Abilene to see the crew over Easter weekend. Lots of zoo time, play time, cooking, and Apples to Apples. Love getting to all be together...
... and love giraffes.
Working on designating more quiet time in the middle of these busy weeks. Time to unwind, regroup, and spend some time in peace with minimal distraction. Challenging for me, yet so good when I create space to just sit and listen.
Spending more time outside! It's been a beautiful spring here with bursts of cold and hot nearly every week. It's the perfect time to soak up creation.
Trying new recipes... like tortillas and pillow cookies! I highly recommend both.
And then we had one incredible Guinness Baseball Bash for Mercy Project! 50 hours of non-stop baseball, and the weekend could not have gone smoother. 56 supporters of MP and lots of volunteers, all coming together to spend a full weekend doing something totally crazy to make the world a better place. We always call it a time of "thin space", and so it is. This has become one of my favorite MP events, and I am so blessed to be part of it.
And most recently, I have put these up...
... in exchange for this:
Going on 11 weeks of no running, and it's been challenging to say the least. Lots of PT work, stretching, and cross training. I'm learning to embrace new forms of exercise – even yoga! – and have enjoyed trying new things, even though I wouldn't choose it. I even bought a bike!
The past week has found me here, lots of screen time putting together the Run For Boston book. Culling down 5,000+ photos to ~2,200 to fit in a 150 page book for thousands of folks to see and purchase. Yikes! It's been a long process, but one in which I have continued to be reminded of the ways ordinary people can join together and change the world. Good triumphing evil. Light overcoming the darkness.
May you do something today to make the world a better place.
Holiday time is different now. Granted, that "we'll always do things the same as we did growing up" went out the window quite some time ago, but I feel like now, I don't even realize Thanksgiving and Christmas are here until they are. I blame it on the stores that skip Halloween and go straight to stringing tinsel in the middle of the summer. That has me all screwed up.
Nonetheless, I'm more and more loving the season of thankfulness, of being more mindful of others, of giving, of Advent and the celebration of the King in a stable. A season to serve and pour out. A season... of Turkey Trots, long runs, and race planning. :)
Here's how the Turkey festivities went down:
3rd Annual Brazos Running Company Turkey Trot 5k & Family Fun Run:
This was my first Turkey Trot here in CS – the only MP event I've missed in the past. It was such a fun day getting to see families and friends all out for a brisk pre-feast run. And it was also really fun not running and getting to organize and host so many people. And the post-race clean-up? Well, just leave that to the professionals!
C-town:
As soon as the Turkey Trot was over, I drove to Abilene and picked up DM & J to make the trek on to Canyon. Long, long day... we were glad to take that Rockwell Road exit and be "home". Barely over two weeks out from the marathon, and I was a bit stressed going into the weekend. Not the best time to be "off" when so much is going on and needing to be done. BUT, I was pleasantly surprised with how relaxing and needed the time was, to the extent that it was one of the best family gatherings I feel like we've had in a long, long time. There were movies, games, cooking, golf, horses, and visiting with friends and family. Soaked it in.
Cutting it close to get this in, but... a very happy birthday to the coolest SIX-year-old I know. We love you Wyatt Cody and cannot imagine the world without your smile, energy, incredible golf talent, and life-giving personality. And many more...!
Time for massive updating. Here's the family news as of late. Or more accurately, the last 3 months...
Gila joined the ranks at the 4N Ranch.
