rubber meets the road...

It's official: I'm thirty. Three-oh. XXX. Three decades.

How am I feeling, you ask? Well, to be honest, there have been a roller coaster of emotions lately but when I stop to think about the life I have I sense how incredibly blessed I am. "Blessed" is sometimes a hokey word, but it really is the word that describes what I'm feeling.

I'm guessing you're wondering about how I did on my list. Funny thing...I stopped caring along the way, or at least stopped caring as much, probably because I knew there was no way I could get done everything I had planned to do.

Anyway, here's the updated list, with updates in bold and/or crossed off:
1. Take a spontaneous road trip.
2. Pass the Series 7 Exam.
3. Lose 30 additional pounds.
4. Grow some of my own food.
5. Splurge on myself by buying something solely because I love it.
6. Host a game night.
7. Learn to bake bread from scratch.
8. Take some modeling photos.
9. Go on a hike.
10. Go on a blind date.
11. Invest in creating community.
12. Put pen to paper and express my love for someone. Mail the letter.
13. Be kind to someone that has caused me pain.
14. Grow in my forgiveness of x. Somehow, without warning or effort, this has happened.
15. Take my nieces and nephew somewhere fun.
16. Commit to reading my Bible often.
17. Volunteer with an organization that I care about.
18. Create tree painting for my living room.
19. Take a dance class.
20. Cook an entire "from scratch" dinner.
21. Train Whisper. He's kind of trained.
22. Blog at least once a month. This barely happened. It felt like an obligation a few times, but I made it. I wish I put more effort in to blogging b/c I actually like writing down my thoughts and being able to go back to read them later.
23. Enjoy the sunrise over the Ohio, or somewhere more glamorous.
24. Travel somewhere new. Isle of Palms, SC! It was gorgeous. There's a whole post about it in my head...hopefully it will make it to this page sometime soon.
25. Jog a mile. I have fallen off the proverbial wagon...time to jump back on.
26. Finish CD gift for my brothers that I started a long time ago. Ooops.
27. Use the envelope system again. I have the best of intentions. I'm half-heartedly doing the envelope system.
28. Change the Game. Live it. Some days are better than others, but it's small steps in the right direction.
29. Get a tattoo. Maybe. I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to pain.
30. Celebrate my 30th birthday. Enjoy it. Live it out.

Eleven out of thirty. Not quite what I was shooting for, but I'll take it. I'm thinking about rolling over all the unfinished items into a new list.

I'm going to end with this quote because it makes me happy and helps me realize that success is not in the checking off of boxes but in the everyday moments. Goodbye twenties; hello thirties, I'm ready for you, this is going to be good...

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children…to leave the world a better place…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take me out to the ball game

Ball game is apparently two separate words or one separated by a hyphen. Who knew!? I'm officially crossing #15 off my list since I finally have the pictures on my computer to prove it.

We had gorgeous weather for the game and the kids were so excited! It was their first MLB baseball game and I'm so glad I was able to take them. They were really good. Okay, there was a little melt down because I wouldn't let them get both cotton candy AND snow cones. I feel no guilt, though, since I told them the rules up front. I almost caved. I can now understand why parents do. Seriously....they have cute little faces and you love 'em to pieces and all they want is a snow cone to make them happy.

Ryleigh is a little cuddle bug and hung on me the whole time. I didn't mind...I'm treasuring these little hugs for as long as I can get them. Scottie tried to be all independent, especially since he was the only boy in our group. And, Makayla showed a little bit of some sassiness, but I think she really enjoyed herself. I'd be lying if I said that it's hard to realize how much they're growing up. It's the epitome of bittersweetness. I adore them, but I'm afraid they'll want me around less and less in their lives and the thought of that kind of breaks my heart. Ahem (pull yourself together, Dana).

I love this first photo. We saw Rosie Red and the kids were super excited about it and I wasn't about to miss a photo op. So, we ran over to greet Rosie and even though she was motioning that she had to go up the stairs I managed to snap two quick photos.

The next photo was not long after the snow cone melt down and on our way back to the car. See, no one's crying so I totally think that's a WIN (which is good considering we got totally stomped by the Pirates. Boo.)

#15 is officially crossed off. :)