Entering A New Decade

As I have recently celebrated my thirtieth birthday, I can’t help but reflect on the past decade, how I have grown and evolved as an individual, and where I hope to go in this next decade, the Lord willing. When people ask me if I’m ready or dreading the thought of turning thirty, it immediately makes me think of when I was a new mom, and others would say, “Just wait until…” or “You think this is hard!…” and I honestly want to ask, “What’s so awful about your thirties?!”

Most of my twenties felt like a lot of work. Isn’t that life though? I experienced loss, courses changed in life aspirations, and the hustle of getting established in life seemed to take so much time away. What I gained in my twenties was the most incredible husband, beautiful, thriving children, and a homestead that feels like home. I gained an unshakable identity in my Lord and Savior and a growth in my faith that has been such a personal blessing. I’ve experienced heartache, the unknown, but what I’ve also witnessed is God’s faithfulness to His promises in my life. I’ve gained some beautiful souls as friends, a strong network of moms who love their husbands and children, and an appreciation for life that is unexplainable. I also discovered a personal superpower that some may be aware of, but others may not have read about in previous blogs: painless, unmedicated labor and deliveries. It’s something that still amazes me, and I aspire to compile everything I know about myself and how my pregnancies unfolded to hopefully inspire other women that labor and delivery does not have to be as hard and complicated as often portrayed.

My biggest takeaway of my twenties has been not to be so hard on myself for the things I didn’t know, or for the thoughts and experiences that weren’t yet revealed to me. I know today, that I am a better wife and mother than I was seven years ago. I know that I’m a stronger individual now, both mentally and spiritually, than I was at twenty, and for that I’m proud. As I have said before in several of my other entries, if you build upon the things you learn or experience, and are open to new things and challenging yourself, you put yourself in a position to really make some amazing changes in you and your family’s lives.

God willing, I’m excited for my thirties and what that will bring. God has put some endeavors on my heart that I have not yet shared. I thank my husband for being my biggest supporter. Having a supportive spouse, in my opinion, automatically brings harmony to my role as a wife and mother. As I tend to my home and him, he always has the right words and does just the right things to make sure that I am supported, confident, secure, healthy, and equipped to be my best self. It’s a beautiful cycle, and what I love about “aging” is knowing that with each year that passes, with each child that grows a little more independent, there will be more time as a couple that we will gain to be together, enjoy each other, and watch the fruits of our labor unfold.

I find my identity is most secure when I think about my service to God and what He is calling me to do. I think for anyone interested in living differently than the world, this is something we can all continue to strive for. My hope and prayer is that my thirties will continue to be a time of growth both mentally and spiritually, that I will continue to learn new things for the health and benefit of myself and my family, and that God will bring people along my path to mentor, teach, and guide.

I know my goals won’t appeal to today’s culture. They are truly goals that reflect more intimacy with Jesus, my family, and friends. I did not emphasize striving for this hedonistic, self-pleasure, self-care pursuit mentality that is so often normalized in our culture today. My joy and contentment are found in Jesus, and the most important thing we can do in this lifetime is listen to His promptings for our “next steps”. At thirty, I am holding myself to the expectation that I know better now. I once was young and naive, but now, in my thirties, I truly know what is expected of me, and I know my worth and the worth of those I hold dearest.

For now, I will soak in everything that comes with raising young children; being more present and intentional with them, enjoying my coffee and sipping on it a little longer, making floral bouquets around the house from the beautiful plants my husband spoils me with, nurturing the relationships closest to me, prioritizing my health holistically, and doing everything in my capacity to make my thirties productive, full of hard work, service, and love.

Lastly, I want to thank every woman in my circle who I consider inspirations and mentors to me, many of whom are now in their 50s and 60s. I received so much love on this special milestone, but what I was most encouraged by was all of the women who said to me, “Embrace growing older with grace; don’t buy into the lie of dread and doom.” You know who you are. Age is just a number; each year, each lifetime, is so fleeting, but what you do in that time is most significant. Live for Jesus, serve others, and abide in being available and ready for whatever God is calling you to.

I’ll check back with you when I turn forty and let you know how it went…I’m pretty excited.