I have been desperately thinking of a creative way to blog about my 30th birthday. It's been a week now and I'm still at a loss for any great ideas - maybe that comes with the big 3 - 0; memory loss. Anyways, as I look back on the last 30 years I thought that I might count off 30 things that have come into my life that have made me what I am today - all of which I am thankful for.
I always thought that turning 30 would be difficult - and it was!! However, it was just another day in time and I really don't feel that much older. I also have some wonderful friends who are already in their 30s and it's not all gloom and doom, it actually seems kind of fun. I'm looking forward to many more wonderful memories as I make my final decade of ascending the mountain before I reach the top and begin my descent. Life has been good and I know can only get better.
30 things (or people) that have impacted who I am today:
1 - Getting to know two sets of amazing grandparents who were able to raise my parents with integrity, a deep sense of moral value and a sincere and steadfast faith.
2 - Wonderful parents who were always supportive and encouraging throughout my growing up years and who gave me a strong sense of family, loyalty, a love for God, and an appreciation for the little things in life. We had so much fun together and still do.
3 - An amazing sister - who I have enjoyed watching grow into a beautiful person inside and out. She is a testiment to all that is good and kind in this world and has taught me many things about relationships, loyalty, friendship and unconditional love. Love you lots sissy!!
4 - My grandma gave me a love for poetry at an early age and ever since I have LOVED it as well as a deep appreciation for reading and the world of the imaginary. Also thank you Mom for taking Katie and me to the Library every summer - I really got into reading then.
5 - At an early age I discovered that drawing came naturally for me and ever since have enjoyed art in all of its forms.
6 - Am grateful for my parents showing my sister and I musicals growing up. I feel like I have a deep love for music and theatre. I really can't say that I really dislike any style of music except for heavy metal and satanic stuff.
7 - Food: Grandma Durr - dill pickles, graham crackers and frosting, spaghetti w/green beans, baked apple doughnuts and apple crisp. YUMMM!!
Grandma Wilson - tacos, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies w/choc. kisses, devil's food cake, roast and mashed potatoes, little smokies. YUMMM!!
8 - I love the occasional rainy day - due to my mom making choc. chip cookies or baked apple doughnuts for us growing up when we would come home after a crummy weather day. There was also a fire and some good reading and a warm blanket.
9 - The Cabin - so many wonderful memories growing up here gave me a love for the outdoors. Walks in the woods (when it wasn't someone's property), thigh deep snow and sledding, floating the river, outdoor barbeques, campfires w/ smores, horseshoes, ping-pong, rock skipping, pool building, reading, and quiet times by the river.
10 - My parents moving my sister and I to Grangeville where I grew up around a wonderful church family, the mountains 5 min. away, the river 15 min. away and being surrounded by God's beautiful creation. It also gave me a deep appreciation for small town America. I wouldn't have wanted to grow up any other place.
11 - Childhood friends - Janae, Jessica, Jennifer, Robin, Stacy, Kim, Jonna, Jody, Kyle, Ryan, Darryl, Shane, Eric, Trevor, David, Yuri, Laryssa, Tara, Shawna, Becky, Anita, Brooke, Wendy, Brandi, Craig (aka mosquito)
12 - Disney movies and Disneyland
13 - Family trips to Hawaii - thanks to my Grandma. So many wonderful family memories were created
14 - Learning a lot about young love in high school. Thanks to those that broke my heart and thanks to all the dragons that I kissed (my sis beat me in this category - HA!). I can truly say that I have found my prince and that he was worth it.
15 - My grandpa and my dad and their love for Native American History - hunting for arrowheads in our mountains at home. What fun and the discoveries that we made - priceless. I thank them for my love for history today.
16 - Hunting for huckleberries in the woods and being scared to death that we were going to be eating by bears or cougars. Coming home with plenty of huckleberries for pancakes, milkshakes and jam. And having stained hands and teeth for 4 days.
17 - Camping trips with the youth group - lots of life lessons learned, rocks and hills climbed, and a few hook-ups (your welcome Shane and Mindy) - By the way: If someone asks you if you want to play frog baseball - just say NO
18 - Working at Subway in highschool - I absolutely loved this job. It taught me a lot!! - not just how to be a sandwich artist
19 - Wrecking my '79 Dodge Colt on black ice. Lesson learned!!
20 - Being able to attend NNU where I received an amazing education and met some of my best friends and my amazing husband.
21 - College friends: Beks, Kim, Mindy, Marissa, Nikki, Jana, Shawna, Jody, Jeremy, Jesse, Chris (cows), Bryan, Curtis, Joe, Katie S. and many, many more
22 - Having the amazing opportunity to tour with my college choir in Europe for three weeks. I would love to go back someday or even live there - it's gorgeous!!
23 - Marrying the love of my life on August 19, 2000 and having an amazing honeymoon in Disneyworld. Also enjoying a brand new family that I am pleased to call my own now - they are wonderful.
24 - Spending the first 3 years of our marriage in a small, stinky, scary apartment.
25 - Being able to buy our first house, getting a new dog (Solomon) and Jeremy getting a job in the family carpet business
26 - Addison Grace Franklin - December 15, 2004; precious baby girl
27 - Getting more involved with church - Sunday school, nursery, family life ministries council, helping with the youth, etc . . .
28 - My small group has greatly contributed to who I am today. I feel like I am a better person, friend, wife, child of God that I ever was before. Thank you small group ladies - your friendship means the world to me and is just what I need at this stage of my life.
29 - My new brother-in-law Derek who has been an amazing fit for my sister and our family. I am so blessed to finally have another brother and already look up to him as an amazing man of God and role model for my children. They will be extremely lucky to have an uncle like him.
30 - Rhett Douglas Franklin - October 3rd, 2008
Looking back I feel like I have been extremely blessed!! What a life!
4 comments:
This is so Awesome Kara! Happy late birthday!!!
I loved reading this. God is so good.
well, of course i cried.
now that i got that out there...i could comment on almost every single one of these. i am in full agreement with the library, the food at both our grandparents, and so many other wonderful things you said. we really have had such a wonderful life!
here's two the best sister in the world whom i love with all my heart! happy 30th, lovely!
ahem..."here's TO..." i meant TO of course. whatev, i'm a music teacher, not English.
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