The dreaded 30

I’d like to say that I took turning 30 with a grain of salt.  Like it didn’t bother me at all.  Like it was just another year.  Sadly though, if I told you that, I’d be lying.  Now, I will admit that I took 29 even worse than I took 30 but 30 hit me really hard.  I am no longer in my 20’s which scares the crap out of me.  I’ve heard a lot of people say that 30 rocks and it’s much better than 20 even thought about being, but still, there is that 3 in front of my age instead of a 2.

My 20’s brought some highlights and they brought some lowlights.  I guess truthfully that’s to be expected with any age, right?  Please tell me I’m not completely batty with this thought.

Let’s focus on the highlights first:

• I did my Student Teaching
• I graduated College
• I was the sober driver on my 21st birthday
• I received my American FFA degree
• I ended my sheep showing career with a bang – Grand Champion Dorset Ewe, Grand Champion Dorset Ram and Grand Champion Dorset Market Lamb at the state fair
• I bought my first car, a 2004 Mustang
• I bought my first brand new car, a 2011 Hyundai Elantra
• I met back up with and married the Love of my life
• Oh and I got married 🙂
• I became a {step}momma even though at the time I was a bit wishy washy on if that was a good thing or not.  Never wishy washy on how I felt about Miss Tbug, just felt way to young to be called Mom.
• I got Scuba Certified
• We bought our first house
• I fell even more in love with photography and bought my first dSLR
• I bought my first Palomino Mare
• I started this here blog
• I went out of the country on a study abroad during college

And there was sooooooo much more, these are just some of the highlights.

There were lowlights too.  You know with the good comes the bad and the ugly.

• Sadly I lost one of my grandma’s and both of my grandpa’s.
• I lost my great grandma
• I didn’t find a job in my degree field
• I had a few not so fun jobs
• I dated a few stinkers of boys
• My childhood Cocker Spaniel Died
• I had to get rid of my 2 Australian Shepherd dogs because they got in and killed some of my sheep flock
• I also had what we believe to be a Black Bear get in and kill off a large majority of my sheep flock
• There were some family issues (cancer being a big majority there)
• I’ve had falling out with friends
• sadly I’ve gained weight… yuck

It’s crazy to look back and see just what 10 years has done to me and my life. What a difference 10 years can make.  There are a lot of times I wish I’d have made different choices.  Gone a different path or a different road, but then where would I be today?  I may not even be the same person.  I know it sucks in a way to be glad for all the pain and misery but there were a TON of joyous moments in there as well.  That’s what we need to focus on here.  Like I said, all of this has shaped and molded me into the person I am today.

So this is what was on my mind.  Sorry, I just had to share.  I’ll leave you with a few photos that were me over the last 10 years.  Here’s to my next 10, 15, 20 and even 30 years!