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I'm 30 today...

...and you know what? It feels good. I have had a whole year to think about how old I would be today, how old 30 sounded, what it meant to be 30....but now that I'm here, I'm kinda excited. I feel like I've earned it. I have lived a lot of life in 30 years, good life too! There are not many regrets. I know exactly who I am and I'm proud of how I got here. I'm waaaay more comfortable in my own skin than I was at 20. So, for those of you who wonder what 30 is like...it's awesome! I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Here is a list of things that I've done in the last 30 years:

Grew up with awesome parents who never told me how weird I really was!

Had many dear friends.

Went to cosmetology school.

Worked at Glamour Shots as a make-up artist and "hair-puffer-upper". Oh yeah! Remember that??

Learned sign language.

Worked the Summer camp at the Institute For Deaf and Blind, where I met so many awesome kids!

Worked at a hearing aid shop.

Attended every loud Christian concert that I could find with a car load of 13 year olds from the youth group.

Went to nursing school, made the deans list, and graduated.

Married my best friend.

Learned to be his wife.

Lived in a garage apartment.

Got a tattoo. LOL! Bet you didn't see that one coming!

Worked at Children's Hospital as a nurse, this was truly one of the most touching experiences of my life.

Found out that my first baby, Molly, was on her way!

Survived a scary and rough pregnancy for 35 weeks.

I held an angel seconds after she was born. She was 6 lbs and 11 oz and she changed my life!

Succeeded in NURSING A PREEMIE!

Came face to face with a breast pump, and WON! No big thing you say? Have you ever been attacked by one of those things? Just sayin.

Became a stay-at-home mama.

Started sewing to keep my hands busy....just a little hobby, right?

Battled with depression and WON!

Ben and I (well mostly Ben) built our home. We did everything ourselves except sheet rock and air conditioning. It took us 1 year and 3 months. We are hard core do-it-yourselfers!

Moved in. And went on bed rest pregnant with Timothy.

Lived through the week they told me that Molly may have leukemia (just 6 days before Tim was born) and had to have a bone marrow aspiration.

It wasn't leukemia, but it was another blood disease, ITP. We started treatments.

Tim was born at 36 weeks and taken from me. 7lbs and 12 oz, but he couldn't breathe.

He had to stay in the NICU for 10 days and on the fourth day I got to hold him.

On the fifth day I finally walked into the NICU without crying. It had been a rough couple of weeks.

On the sixth day I got to nurse him, he was such a good baby even though he was so sick.

Lived through having a 2 year old with ITP and a baby with asthma, for 6 months my life was steroids and breathing treatments! No sleep to be had.

Molly went into REMMISION!!! Tim got tubes in his ears and life started to feel normal again.

Bad pregnancy NUMBER 3 didn't even seem bad! I even learned to give myself all of the injections! The brethine pump was old hat. I thought I had this pregnancy thing whipped!

My sweet Madeline came into the world 7lbs and 14oz, and as healthy as a horse!

I learned to be the mother of three kids. There is a learning curve at 3.

Enjoyed, appreciated, and was grateful for THREE healthy kids!!!

Got to nurse Maddie for 2 1/2 years! I had to wean the other two at 18 months because of pregnancy, so getting to have extra time with Maddie was so sweet.

I lived through loosing or fourth baby to miscarriage.

I started a blog and an Etsy shop! This was the beginning of The Handmade Dress business!

Started making crochet patterns.

Was contacted by a distributor who wanted my stuff!!!

As a family we started moving out of that "war zone" that is having three very small children and life got easier. I started getting to sleep through the night (if I wanted to)!

Designed the Miss Molly pattern and found my niche in the sewing world!

Became a homeschooling mama, that's another learning curve!

We did the Dave Ramsey thing and Got to say "WE ARE DEBT FREE!!!"

We lost our fifth baby to miscarriage.

I learned how to accept God's will for my life.

We decided to adopt and started the process!

And here I am. 30 years old. I am all of these things. I have a wonderful family, three beautiful children here and more in an orphanage in Bulgaria, I'm still married to my best friend, we still live in the house we built with our own two hands, and I am happy. Very happy. And today I'm proud to have been the one that got to live these 30 years.

Comments

LadySnow said…
Thank you so much for posting this....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! You are a wonderful person (and I have only "met" you through the internet. :-) I turn 30 in a couple of months and it's wonderful to hear someone talk about it being a good thing. Don't usually hear that...you know? And yes...I know about the breast pump thing....those things can be vicious! :-) Have a great birthday.
Anonymous said…
Ah, your just a babe! I'm nearly 47 and still in the thick of child rearing, I don't feel "that old" though! Happy Birthday! Thanks for sharing your unique list of things you've seen in your 30 years.
Kathya said…
Happy Birthday!!!
Those are 30 wonderful years you have had. With ups and downs, but still wonderful, huh?
i am hoping to say the same when i turn 30 too. :D
Shell said…
You forgot to add that you've become a blessing to so many people in this world. I'll be the first to say it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMBO DEAN ! Why did I ever start calling you that anyway?
Anonymous said…
Happy Birthday! Thanks for the reminder of God's faithfullness through all the good and bad times! You are just barely older than me....I'll be turning 30 on Jan 2nd. :)
wow is all I have to say. I am amazed at how many trials you have endured but you are amazing for them....You are an inspiration to me. I hope that when my trials come and go that I will be as upbeat as you are

www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.com
L said…
Just wanted to come by and wish you a happy birthday! Thanks for sharing your great list, you have accomplished and endured alot in 30 years. Have a great day!
Anonymous said…
Happy Birthday. What a wonderful List. You are blessed in having such a large family at Just 30! You are young. Enjoy your next 10 years till you hit 40! I just did and I am still in denial. :)
Stephanie said…
Happy Birthday! Remember what Tim Magraw says "The next 30 years will be the best years of my life." I bet yours will be great.
Martha said…
Happy Birthday!!! 30 is YOUNG, I remember it oh so faintly.
Debbie said…
Happy Birthday to one young chick. i'm so glad to "know" you. Having crossed the 40 mark, I can say that you'll have the same feeling when you do the same. The years are just numbers. The way we live them defines our age.
Keykeeper said…
Happy birthday, Samantha!!!:)
Courtney said…
Happy Birthday, and I loved your list! :)
Rose and Ivy said…
Happy birthday Samantha!!! Enjoy your day!!

You know what??? I turned 30 on May 7-- I am exactly 5 months older than you! You know the picture of me you can see next to this post??? That was taken of me at five months on the day you were born!

I love your list!

Marlya xx
jenn said…
Happy birthday! You've earned it!
Great to read of your journey, here is to many happy memories and good times ahead!
warmly,
jenn
Hayes said…
Happiest of days to you, Sam. May today bring you joy and peace in where you are today. My 30s have been wonderful and I would never want to be 20 again, maybe WEIGH what I did in my twenties, but that's it! Happy Birthday!
Mindy said…
Happy, happy birthday, and congratulations on 30 years and celebrating what makes you you!
jackiep1975 said…
Happy Birthday Sam--no wonder I like you so much. Today is my daughter Jennifer's 29th and guess what she is 10 weeks preg--she lost a set of twin boys when she was 16 and has never been able to get preg since then till now. Have a happy happy one
Anonymous said…
Happy, happy birthday!
Cindy said…
Happy Birthday Samantha....I hope your special day was filled with all of your favorite things!!!
Danielle said…
happy birthday sam!! i'm glad to know you. we celebrate you and the day you were both along with the 30 years you've been alive. :)
Goosegirl said…
Happy Birthday Sam!
You have accomplished so many wonderful things and been a part of so many miracles in your life. You are a blessing to so many. I pray that God blesses you so much today and grants you the desires of your heart.

Sivje
Attilio said…
all i can say is
a truly blessed happy birthday to you, may the Lord hold you close in the crook of His arms all the days of your life....
God bless you and your family

becky from malta
bpbajona@maltanet.net
Jody said…
Happy Birthday!! Loved reading all of the things you have done. Its quite a list. :-)
Unknown said…
Happy Birthday Samantha! Just think what you will accomplish in the next 30 years! Keep that awesome list going...

annie
Anonymous said…
What a sweet, encouraging and wonderful list!!! Happy birthday! You're truly blessed.
Meghan said…
You are incredible! I turned 30 this year too and feel a lot like you did, although I haven't done nearly as much neat things in my life as you have!
Anonymous said…
Hey Sam; it'syour dad. quit it girl you almos made me cry twice.
tell how I pushed you off rocks and out of trees and how the coyotes almost eat us alive in the wilderness. I love you Babe and HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Papa
I pray your feeling better.
courtne450 said…
Thank you so much for your post! It brought tears to my eyes. I'll be turning 30 in Feb. and have been dreading it so badly! Your post helped me feel somewhat better about that dreaded day! I'm going to try to start looking at it in a positive way, thinking about the things I have accomplished and not all that I haven't! Thanks Sam!
Unknown said…
As your 31st comment here, I hate to mess up the cool factor of having 30 comments on your 30th birthday post...but Happy Birthday, my new friend!
est said…
HaPPy Birthday to you sam!! bravo for your great list of accomplishment! :)
The Cains said…
Happy Belated Birthday, Samantha! Blessings and prayers for the next 30 years to be as wonderful!
Fondly,
Marla

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