Another Year...

has slipped through my fingers.
It flew by as a whirlwind of fun trips, late nights, movies, dates with my wonderful husband, and family get togethers I never want to forget. It escaped through intriguing books I couldn't put down, t.v. shows that captured my attention, music that inspired my soul, and my late-night obsession of 'catching up' with old friends. (yes, I'm talking about blogging!) It tiptoed around sweet goodnight whispers and cuddles with my growing little boy, sleepless nights with my new little one, and those wonderfully crazy, beautiful, emotional moments that come with pregnancy, delivery, and motherhood. It laughed over good times and bad times and every other moment that is etched into who I have become in this year. How can I fault such a swift passing when I packed it so full of wonder and life?

So here I am: staring my 29th year straight in the face; challenging it to be louder, grander, and more wonderful than all of my other 28 years put together. It just feels a little bit odd.
I don't consider myself old. And when I say the number: twenty-eight, I don't think it's an old number. I definitely know that I have so much of life ahead of me. SO, I am not facing some mid-life crisis over the number that I am now.

It's just different than 27.

And I think this is why: when I graduated from high school and left for college, I thought, "hmmm...I wonder where I'll be in 10 years." (Why do we speak in terms of 10 years? Is is because it's an even number? It's a decade? I don't know, but that is always my projected 'I wonder' thought..) And now, NOW, that '10 years' is here and I know what I am doing. No. More. Wondering.
Like I said: just a little bit odd.
I'll admit- I am doing some pretty great things. I am doing some pretty fantastic things actually. But I never pictured what these fantastic things would be. 1o years ago my sweet husband and precious boys didn't have faces, thoughts, and personalities. My 'dream' home didn't have our pictures hung on the wall, memories in every corner, and loved ones stopping by. I had no idea what my dreams would look like, feel like, and be. And now I do.

So, this turning 28 thing is giving me the next "I wonder where I'll be in 10 years." It's giving me the chance to look back and realize that I have met so many incredible, amazing people. I have done things I loved, things I didn't love, and things I would do over and over again if I could. It's giving me the chance to look forward and realize that since I do have so many wonderful, amazing, challenging, exciting years ahead- I better make myself the best I can be.

I want this year to be the year of discovery: discovering the hidden talent I never knew I had, discovering the strength and ability I have to overcome weaknesses, discovering the beauty of each moment of my little boys' lives, discovering, even more, how amazing my sweet husband is, discovering new depth, understanding, and love for my family and friends, and discovering how truly wondrous this life is.

As a result of this 29th-year-challenge I decided to start it off right. I packed up my kiddos in our grand ol' double jogger and went jogging. I pushed myself to run farther and just a little bit faster than I did the day before.
And it felt great.
I can already tell it's going to be an incredible year.