Today is the day...

...that I turn the Big 3-0! Over the past couple of weeks I have really been pondering life, my life. I have really had a great 30 years. I have nothing to complain about at all. I have had so many blessings, so many things to be thankful for, known so many wonderful people, gotten to experience so many things, and learned so many lessons. All things, good and bad, have shaped me into who I am today. I've been thinking about where I want to go from here...what I want my next 30 years to look like. In order to do that, I've reflected back, and I would like to take this opportunity on this day to list some people, blessings, experiences, opportunities, and lessons that I am thankful for...those that have made me, me! This list in not exhaustive and is in no particular order!

1. I am thankful that there is a God and that I know Him!

2. I am thankful for my salvation. I know that I may or may not have 30 or more years on this earth....but I know where my eternity will be spent!

3. My family - I have a great and wonderful family. We surely have our quirks and problems, but I have always been supported, loved, and provided for. I know where I can turn if there is no where else to go.

4. My grandparents - I must list them separately. I was lucky that I had all 4 of my grandparents until I was 23 years old. I still have 1 grandparent left...he is 92...can you believe it? I have so many memories of the time I spent with them. They all went through a lot and came out on top! I love to hear something, see something, or smell something that remind me of them because it's always a happy memory and a happy moment. I am saddened for those who don't get to know there grandparents or have the love from their grandparents like I did. It was surely a rare gift that I am so proud of!

5. My old friends - How nice is it to know that you have people you can count on that have been your friends for years! I have had friends come and go in my life, but how refreshing are those relationships that are old and comfortable. How refreshing is it to know that there are people out there who you can pick right back up where you left off with even if you haven't seen or really talked in 5 years. How awesome is it to know that you have at least 1 friend that will walk on fire for you! You all know who you are!

6. New friends - I have made some new friends over the past couple of years. I am so thankful for those uplifting friends that inspire you to be a better you! Again, you know who are are!

7. I will also say that those friends and relationships that were lost or just slipped through the cracks taught me lessons and shaped me. I am saddened that I have lost friends, but sometimes it's for the best.

8. Auburn University - WAR EAGLE! Those 4 years that I spent there were amazing. I met so many people, did so many awesome things, learned so many important lessons, and began to grow into my own. I love that place. It would take too long to tell you all about my time there.

9. The Auburn Wesley Foundation - This was the Methodist campus ministry at Auburn. This is where most of my friends were in college. This was a place, and organization, that helped me to grow closer to God than I had ever been in my life. This was a place that was a comfort to me. I learned to love deeper through this place. I am forever grateful.

10. Physical therapy - I love what I do. It's awesome to have a career and a job that you love. I have met so many people doing what I do. I always say that everybody has a story and a lesson to teach you if you take the time to listen. I have heard horror stories, heard some of the most romantic stories, seen sad stories, and rejoiced in happy stories through the people I get to meet. How awesome is it that I literally almost get to meet at least 1 new person a day....and not only that, I get the opportunity to help someone, make someone feel better, and possibly improve quality of life for people on a daily basis...can it get better than that?

11. The summer after my freshman year at Auburn, I along with 3 other girls traveled around in a van to different towns all summer putting on VBS for churches through the Wesley Foundation. When we pulled into town, we never knew where we would be sleeping or where our meals would come from (of course they all had it worked out), but we just trusted that it would be provided for us as we provided for them...and it always was! Simple lesson in trust.

12. The summer after my sophomore year at Auburn, I got the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Honduras where we began building a church and did some VBS for some children....WOW!

13. The summer after my senior year at Auburn, I spent 3 weeks in Venezuela. We slept in hammocks under mosquito nets those 3 weeks...comfortable I might add. We were given the task of building a medical clinic and doing some short term medical care. We also had the opportunity to share the Gospel while we were there. It was so amazing to hear the stories of how far people had to walk to get to where we were just to get some basic care. It showed me how we take what we have for granted. While there, I had the opportunity to ride in a dug out canoe down a river to an truly indigenous village and spend the night....very very eye opening! We then traveled to the rainforest to hike to a beautiful waterfall...WOW again! It seems you go on mission trips to help others, but you always come out just as blessed!

14. This past year, I got to go to Africa to see a family be "born". I saw a mother and son born thousands of miles apart become a family instantly. I met a baby that had been through more in his 14 months than most of us in America go through in our lives....and I've seen him overcome and grow into an amazing little boy! That was a truly amazing experience!

15. Church of the Highlands - I've been going to this church for a year and a half. I joined this year. I cannot even use words to describe how great it is....if you live in Birmingham, and don't have a church, please try this out. You won't be disappointed!

16. I have gotten the opportunity to see parts of the country that I never thought I would. My first clinical rotation in PT school was in Portland, Oregon. Daphne got assigned to a place in Washington State right outside of Portland. We loaded up my mom's car and drove out there. On the way we got to stop at Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone among other places. We also go to visit Seattle, the West Coast, and San Francisco while there. That was a fun 8 weeks for sure. I got to see SO much of this beautiful country, and gained a love and respect for traveling. I learned a lot about physical therapy, and I learned that I really do love home. I love to travel, but there is nothing like coming home!

17. I'm pretty sure that if someone who knows me was asked about me, Carrie Underwood would be mentioned. Going to Carrie concerts is a hobby for me. I love hearing her music! I have also met some pretty cool people doing this. (I've also met some very "interesting" people too, but have always been entertained!) Though I'm not sure that the world is any different by me being a fan like I am, it makes me happy and refuels me, in turn, helping me be the person I need to be!

18. The circle of life - I have been around to hold babies less than 24 hours old, seen families born, attended weddings, and been present when someone took their last breath. If that doesn't mold you and make you, I don't know what can!

If you are still reading at this point, I'm pretty impressed! I could go on for a while, but this post has gotten incredibly too long. I just felt I needed to take a moment out of my day to say I am blessed...who could argue with that after reading the above. As I read back over my list, it seems like everything up there has to do with relationships....my pastor would say relationships are what life is all about! I am thankful for my first 30 years because it has been more than I've deserved. I am on a mission to make the rest of "my dash" be something that I'm proud of...be something that makes a difference in this great big world.