i'm 30

...years old...today!

yes, it's my birthday.

birthdays...they've always been a huge deal to me. growing up we got our favorite things for breakfast...and lunch...and dinner...and got to pick what kind of cake. and we had precious homemade birthday signs made for us. and balloons and streamers. i love birthdays.

people keep asking if this one is "hard?" no, it really isn't. in so many circles of friends we are the youngest...we've always been the youngest...the youngest to get married, to have kids. it's nice to feel like maybe i'm starting to grow up finally. (don't worry, hannah, we'll still have fun :-))

it's been a nice day. by 10 am one sweet friend brought me a HUGE diet coke from chick-fil-a (MY FAVORITE) and another stopped by with a little gift. i've had wonderful phone calls. and sweet emails. and today has been about ALLOWING things i normally don't. i allowed myself to go shopping for a pair of shoes (with money from my wonderful aunt!) and to the bookstore to browse books (with all 3 kids - so neither one went kind like i had envisioned - but i still did it) instead of going to Wal-Mart and getting the "grocery" items we need. i allowed myself to take us out to eat at Chick-fil-a for lunch (and got ANOTHER! diet coke! i normally only allow myself 1 a day...) i got a salad but allowed myself my OWN thing of fries (instead of eating whatever is left of everyone else's). and while the kids napped i allowed myself to lay under a blanket (because it's still COLD!) and read for an HOUR - instead of doing all the things i should be doing. and once i'm finished here, i'm going to allow myself to go have a big piece of my birthday cake!

so, there, it's been a nice day. we have shepherd group at our house tonight. so, i will have to get my act together and pick up a little.