Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving

This stocking brought me home from the hospital thirty years ago!

Dear Thirty,

Today, I officially welcome you into my life, and while some people may have mixed feelings about greeting such a guest, I've gotta say I'm ready for you. It's time. While I may not be rushing fervently into your arms, my few extra pounds rustling as I shed my lovely twenties behind, I do acknowledge you with a wink and a nod. You're still a stranger yet, a bit exotic to me, but you come bearing a deep and abiding hope that my prime has just begun.

And while I've never really been flirty in my entire life, at least I can boast the other two, right? Thirty and thriving—that should be my motto for the next decade of life. While I may not appreciate the few gray hairs I've found at my temple or the suggestion of a double chin that has me terrified, I do feel rather positive about this milestone birthday. Am I more out-of-shape than I've ever been? Sadly, yes. Have I left my youthful carelessness behind me? Terribly afraid so.

And yet. I have so, so much to show for it.

Welcome, Thirty. I applaud thee. You have brought me many blessings, much wisdom, and that hope I mentioned before. So in honor of this birthday, I've compiled a list of thirty random facts about myself. Mostly, this blog focuses more on my children, but if one can't be a bit self-directed on her birthday, what's the point? So if someone is a regular reader or a stranger just stopping by, hopefully they will all feel as if they've gotten to know me a bit better. Or perhaps just learned something new. Either way, here is a snapshot of Lori at Thirty.

1. I still want to be a novelist when I grow up. (Yes, I've actually written two books since high school, and yes, they're still collecting dust in a drawer somewhere.)

2. I've lived in my house for almost four years now and still have no curtains on most of my windows (other than boring white blinds). I can't explain why. Laziness? Cheapness? Fear of decisions?

3. When I clean (which isn't often!), I like to blare 80's music and literally rock the house.

4. I am—hands-down—the worst singer I know. Yet we sing a lot in our family. Not just songs, but even daily conversation back and forth. With pretend microphones. I would never do this in front of others, but my kids (and my husband) find it endearing. Go figure.

5. In the mid-80's I fell deeply in love with Indiana Jones, and it has never ceased. In fact, I even considered naming my son Indiana at one point, but pretty much everyone talked me out of it.

6. I'm a Coke addict (Coca-Cola, that is), although I gave it up for a combined 36 months of carrying and breastfeeding my children. That was about my limit.

7. I began college with plans to become a veterinarian, and now find it ironic that I don't even own a pet (although not by my choice!).

8. I have a colorful tattoo of a butterfly on my big toe. My one tiny rebellion to what people generally expect of me. I don't think I'll ever regret it.

9. My favorite scent in the whole world is my children's hair. It's going to embarrass them tremendously at some point, but I can't go a day without sniffing their tresses.

10. At one point between high school and college, I spoke Spanish almost fluently. Now, I barely remember a few words and phrases.

11. My favorite color has always been red.

12. I'm a total bibliophile. Love books! The feel, the smell, the journey. I'm getting a Kindle this year for Christmas, and I'm curious to see if it changes the experience of reading for me.

13. My dream house contains a floor-to-ceiling library, a wrap-around porch, and an over-sized fireplace.

14. Ever since childhood, I've had a yen for leopard print. As tacky as it sounds, I probably always will.

15. I'm not much of a videogamer, but I absolutely adored Donkey Kong on Super Nintendo. It's the only game I've ever played completely through and "beaten."

16. At the age of seventeen, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. While it's pretty much controlled with medicine, not a day goes by that I don't think about my health.

17. My favorite place to pray is in the middle of a grassy field, lying on my back, looking up into the sky.

18. My extended family still holds actual candle-blowing birthday parties for everyone—kids and adults alike—and the older I've gotten the cooler I've found that tradition to be. (Although, to be honest, I've always enjoyed them.)

19. Erik immediately caught my interest the day we met because he quoted The Princess Bride to me, not knowing it was my favorite movie of all time. It's mainly why I started dating him (that, and he knew every word to the song “One Jump” from Disney's Aladdin movie).

20. Start to finish, I was in labor with Ava for nine hours and with Hudson for four hours. Both times I had an epidural/spinal, and both times I was laughing as I delivered them. I hope they never forget that.

21. I lived alone in an apartment for the entire year I was engaged, and although it was the scariest thing I've ever done, I am so glad I did. It allowed me to truly understand myself before I got married.

22. I still believe in Santa Claus. And magic.

23. Somewhere there exists an entire catalog of home movies created by me and my cousins, using our grandpa's video camera. We wrote scripts, directed each scene, and of course acted them out ourselves. Those are some of my best childhood memories.

24. For some reason, I hate to be the first person to enter a room. I'd rather sneak in behind someone else.

25. Growing up in the country molded me. I'll never truly feel at home unless I'm surrounded by fields, trees, and sky. I won't buy another house unless it's in the country.

26. I have to eat every few hours or I get insanely grumpy. Just ask my husband, who once drove cross-country with me for almost twelve hours and refused to stop for food. He never did that again. ;)

27. Ever since childhood, I've always had very colorful, vivid dreams that involve me solving crimes. When I wake up, I can recall every detail and sometimes write them down to use when I'm writing.

28. I still talk to my mom every single day.

29. I started this blog in 2008 as a way for me to write and share family anecdotes, and never realized how important it would become to preserving our memories.

30. As I look back over the past thirty years, I cannot believe how blessed I truly am. Truly, today is a celebration for me—of all that has been and all that I hope will be.