30 Years

In some ways, it's hard to believe that in less than 48 hours I will have been alive on this earth for 30 years. Just as with everyone, God had a plan and purpose for me before I was even born. Throughout the decades, I have grown, fallen down, experienced some amazing moments, made many stupid and careless mistakes, and, overall, grown into a woman who has learned many lessons. Gained wisdom, if you will. And at the heart of me, that's what I desire- to be wise, to better hear and obey the voice of God, and to shine His light in all of the darkness around me. I certainly have much more room to grow, but I can clearly see how the Lord has matured me. Refined me. How He has sharpened me. Even just one year ago I was not the same woman that I am today... and I am so grateful, so happy to see and know that change. Nearly 30 years ago I came into this world as an infant, completely dependent on the care and love of others; today I am still dependent on a different, yet just as important care and love... only this time it's from my Father. Without Him, I am nothing.

This weekend is going to be super! The family and I are headed down to Little Rock to visit extended family/friends for the weekend. We're also going to be celebrating my birthday, as well as taking care of some "business". My sister Courtney is throwing me a 30th birthday bash and I get to see so many of my friends that I've been missing since we moved. This makes me very happy! The party is a black and white theme, with everyone being asked to wear one or both of those colors. There will be black and white decorations and even a black and white dessert table! I can't wait to see how it turns out. Some entertaining games have been planned and I know it'll be a blast. We're also going to be packing up a small UHaul tow-behind trailer on the way home full of all of the things we couldn't fit into the big UHaul when we moved. Thankfully, a couple of our friends volunteered to store those items for us in the meantime and now it's time to get them home. And early Sunday afternoon, on our way out of town, we're stopping by my SIL's house to have a quick Christmas gift exchange since we were unable to see any family on Christmas Day. Then we're picking up my mama (who is visiting from Mississippi and is currently at my sister's house) and heading home. This will be the first time my mom has seen our new house! I bet she'll like how much bigger it is and how it'll keep her grandkids from being quite as on top of her as they usually are. ;-)

Last Saturday Robby and I met with my new, second midwife for the first time. She is partnering up with my original MW for my birth and we had an appointment for a prenatal visit at her office in Huntsville (a little over an hour away). We packed the kids up, stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch (it was half-price day: everything on their menu was half off!), and then drove out to meet her. I was somewhat apprehensive of what she'd be like. I'm not sure why. Somehow I expected her to be busy, if not somewhat disinterested, and mostly business-like. Boy was I WRONG! We pulled up to her "office"- which is inside a separate wing of an old skating rink that she and her husband own and operate, and as soon as I saw her through the glass door, I knew she was different. I walked in, she beamed at me, gave me a great big hug, and introduced herself. I immediately felt God's presence. We walked back through several rooms (including a large room with a stage where several young men were practicing worship music) and into a private area with an indoor playground of sorts. Robby entertained the kids there while the MW and I (we'll call her "N") sat and talked in an adjoining room. She did the usual- checked my blood pressure, measured my uterus, etc- but the rest of the hour-long visit was spent excitedly chatting about the Lord! She and I seem to be on the same page as far as beliefs go and we shared stories of God's revelations to us, faith-filled confessions over my birth, and multiple times we were in awe over how the conversation would jump into something that God had recently been speaking to us about personally. I loved that while she had her hands on my belly and was feeling of the baby, she had this huge smile on her face and would say things like, "Oh what a blessing!" and "Your water is good... everything is healthy. Hallelujah!" Such things were so natural for her- she just seemed to ooze the Lord's joy and a confidence that comes only from knowing and trusting in Him for and in all things. I want that! I left that place in a state of quiet euphoria knowing that what had just happened was completely and utterly in God's plan all along. I believe that N and I will have a close bond and that God is definitely going to use each of us in the other's life in various ways. I am thrilled to see how this will all unfold!