Monday, February 23, 2009

Happy Birthday to ME!

I am 30 years old today. I have always loved birthdays, but this year feels extra special. Not because I am an "adult" or because it moves me out of the crazy twenties... but because I feel content with my life. I like who I have become over the past 30 years. I feel like I have learned to accept myself with all my flaws and strengths. I look back at photos, some of which I will share with you... and I sometimes do not recognize the shy girl in the photo. I ran the gambit of introvert and extrovert, fat and thin, happy and depressed... all to get to where I am now. I had a wonderful fun and love filled childhood which I sometimes still feel like I am in. I keep waiting for the time when I will feel "all grown up", but it hasn't seemed to arrive yet. I don't expect that it will, at least I hope I always feel young "at heart". My tween years were spent following, and my teens a bit more leading. In high school I found myself with mentors who helped me realize my potential. They saw something in me that I had not seen myself yet. I will always be thankful for their encouragement and guidance. It wasn't until I landed in massage school that I saw myself for who I truly was or what I was capable of. Since then I have followed my heart and it has lead into this beautiful life I live at this moment. I look forward to my children's 30th birthdays and the lifetime of love within our family. I truly appreciate the wonderful friendships I have (some of the best I've had in my life) and the close family relationships that fill my heart. I am thankful I have all of you in my life. You make my days radiate with sunshine and joy!! :) So Happy Birthday to me! I am thrilled to be 30, looking forward to 40, 50 and beyond!

Enjoy the photos. Yes, Mom and Dad.. there is a "scandalous" photo on here, but that is part of the patchwork of how I got from there to here! Loved every minute of it! ;)
5 days old (on left) 3 months old (on right)!
everybody has nekked pics right? 12 months old
20 months old... broken femur
Look how fun I was at 2!!! ;)
3rd B-day party, looks like my friends were having a great time!
Queen Sara 4 years old
Hula Sara 4 or nearly 5
5th B-day celebrated at Disneyland! Wahoo!
Age 6 Wheeeeeee!
Camp Reed Age 6 or 7, Indian Princesses with Dad
Christmas age 7
Valentine's Day 2nd grade
Road trip to CO age 8
Grandma and Grandpa's condo age 9
Started violin age 10 (I believe I stopped at 11 hehe, sorry Dad)
6th grade Halloween
Pinni and Rainbow age 12
7th grade Mom's night at Jr. High
8th grade "formal" with friends

9th grade jumping off bridge with Shawn
10th grade started with football team as trainer / manager
Senior pics taken with Marty Marmot (junior year)
Senior trip to Disneyland w/ Mom and friend
gasp! Got inked in Lake Tahoe at 18
Dorm roommate Melia at Washington State, Pullman WA
Halloween Horror Nights age 19, Livin' large in Orlando FL
Age 20 Manito Park, Spokane WA
21 back in FL for a visit!
Age 23, met Russell! Yellowstone trip
Age 24 getting married next day!
Married bliss at 24

Preggo and livin' in TX at 25
Sweet Leilani born at 26
Pregnant again at 27! Welcome Orion!
28 and goin' smooth

29!! (bonniberryphotography.com)

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Loved the photos! SP

iMother2.0 said...

Happy happy birthday, lovely lady! Welcome to your 30's! They ROCK!
Thank you for sharing so many wonderful shots! You always look like YOU! :)

iMother2.0 said...

p.s. this world is so much better because you were born!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!! I hope you are having an awesome day. Love the photos that you have shared.

Gale Brown said...

i love the mom and daughter prom night pic! too funny! happy 30th!

Stephanie said...

You did have a fabulous perm :-)
30 is fabulous. Let's enjoy our 2 weeks of being the same age!

Bonnie said...

happy bday my dear. you are so beautiful inside and out. xo b

Unknown said...

These are great! Happy 30th Mama!

Anonymous said...

Now, I searching for the best information for lake tahoe~~*

and your Blog are very interesting too

i hope you to don't angry me to post this post for backlink

Please comeback to visit my blog too : lake tahoe

I'm sorry , If you think this is spam. but may i thank you again.

Andrea said...

Loved this post.

Happy 30th birthday!
(You're so young) =)

Christen said...

I love you, mama. Happy Day to you. Sorry I'm so late.

Anonymous said...

hi there! just stumbled upon your blog from move-to-austin.com... happy to see you on the internet!

happy birthday!