Everything I know, I learned after I was 30.

So, today is the day! The Big 3-0! You know what - I feel great. I was just thinking yesterday as I was folding a load of towels, "I feel really great today." I got the idea for the title of this post from a comment that a good friend of mine left on my myspace page. She's a little bit older than me, and probably a lot wiser!

A lot of people - particularly women - have a tough time with hitting 30 and bidding farewell to the 20s. For me, this is just not the case. My 20s held their fair share of wonderful moments, but overall they were very difficult years for me. My college years were wonderful (especially my freshman year), but they were also hard as I said a final goodbye to the thing that had defined me for so many years before that - my volleyball career. I made the best friend of my life during college, and through the latter years of my 20s, we have grown apart and now barely speak. That's been a tough transition for me. I bought my first home in my 20s (and then my second). I gave birth to my beautiful Elise and met and married my soulmate - although those 2 events did not happen in the order that I thought they would. I got my first professional job in my 20s, and I've met so many wonderful people during my career so far.

I have officially coined my 20s as a decade of learning and personal growth. For those who know me, it comes as no surprise to hear me acknowledge this....I am a very stubborn person. I tend to learn my lessons the hard way. Hitting 30 has made me really look back at the person I was at 20, even 25. When I think back to those years, I can barely recognize myself. I am finally 100% comfortable in my own skin, and it feels GREAT! I have a clear vision of what I want to be now. I thought I knew back then, but now when I think back to myself as a new college graduate, I realize that I knew nothing! All the things that I thought were important at that point in life have fallen by the wayside as I get older and realize what really matters. It feels good to finally know myself - really know myself. So, with that, I bid farewell to my 20s. I'm thankful for all that they taught me, but I wouldn't go back for anything in the world - even if that means I have to put up with slight weight gain and a few wrinkles in the process!

We celebrated yesterday since Jamie and I both had to work today. My original plan was to book a party room at The Melting Pot and have a huge bash. I had a guest list of more than 30 people at one point. But Hurricane Ike had different things in mind! I had already toned things down quite a bit before the storm came and decided just to do a family celebration in lieu of the huge party, however the restaurant sustained major damage in the storm and remains closed for repairs as I type this blog entry. Plan B was going to be moving the celebration to a different restaurant, but then the football game was rescheduled from Friday night to late Saturday afternoon (also hurricane related). These are the things that one becomes accustomed to as a football wife. It was becoming clear at this point that a dinner out was not meant to be!

As is usually the case, things happen for a reason and I am so glad this is how it all turned out. Mom did a meal and small party for me at her house last night, and she surprised me by inviting one of my oldest childhood friends to join us. Jennifer and I were the best of friends as children and remained friends all through high school. Her husband (and former classmate of ours) is currently deployed in Iraq, and it has brought her back to Friendswood for the time being. There is a saying that I like: "The older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young." While I still consider 30 to be young, it was wonderful to sit with her and reminisce while we watched our daughters play together. It was so heartwarming, and I can't think of a better gift for my special day than the gift of friendship. Thank you, Jennifer!!!

Jamie helped plan my big surprise, and I must admit I had NO idea! I am a tough person to surprise, so they did an awesome job keeping the secret under wraps. He also surprised me with a beautiful new watch and Tiffany's necklace that I have been eyeing for quite some time now. My father-in-law is going to engrave the back of the heart on my necklace. It is gorgeous and will be a wonderful keepsake to remember my 30th. I love you, my heart. You are the best! Elise was so cute. After we ate cake, she said, "Mommy, thank you for your birthday." She really knows how to melt my heart.

So here I am - 30 and fabulous!!! I am confident that the best is yet to come...