Monday, July 14, 2008 at 08:23 AM

Thank you all for allowing me that brief moment of introspection in my last post.  It was a bit of a pity party--but I was just keeping it real and I appreciate you listening in.  Your words were so kind and I really appreciate you taking the time to say them.  This little blog community just really super you know?  It has allowed me to keep in touch with old friends and make new ones half-way around the world!  Feeling pretty happy about that!

We had the rare opportunity to eat out with our best friends on my birthday.  Alone.  Without our kids (they have 3 girls too).  Usually we rely on each other for babysitting and therefore cannot ever go anywhere together!  This time we planned in advance to have the night out together.

A lovely evening outside, good friends, chicken curry soup, Bangkok Thai crepes, three bottles of wine, and creme brulee can make any girl feel better!  (I stuck to one glass of wine...I am a bit of a lightweight.  My counterparts on the other hand...:)

They had some fun at my expense.  You see we have had this little brush fire up behind our house.  When I say little I mean "13,000 acres little". 

We watched out our front windows as that helicopter worked heroically with two others to try and save that house.  They were amazingly successful because everything around it burned. The other night it seemed it was headed right for my front door.

Carl had the tripod at his office so my pictures didn't turn out very well.  My friend Melissa did a better job.  When the only thing standing between you and some gigantic flames is a wheat field...One can get a extremely nervous.  There were sheriffs and news crews posted at the entrance to our housing developments.  I kept wondering when they were going to come knocking on my door telling me I had exactly 3 seconds to get all my children, valuables, automobiles, (okay maybe the cat too- if I like her on that day) and get the hell out of there.  I couldn't sleep without setting a *few* things by the garage door.  Everyone thought that was pretty funny.  I, of course, was determined to have the last laugh.  Thankfully it never reached that point.  Somehow those crazy firefighters held the flames off and now it is burning further away and I can breathe a sigh of relief. Cough cough.  Smoke.

Whew!  All this excitement and emotion!  I am ready for a vacation.  We are headed out to do some camping/golfing/marshmallow roasting/waterslide sliding.  I'll be back later this week! 

::30::

 

(Me in Mrs. Korte's 1st grade class, I was Rainbow Brite for Halloween.  My mom made my costume! I thought it was so rockin'. In 1984 there was no such thing as red-eye reduction :)

Bittersweet.  That is how I would describe my feelings about turning 30.  Being the introspective person that I am, birthdays are "thinking days" for me.  I tend to take inventory of my life, remembering where I have been and wonder about where I am going.  I am not sure why but this birthday seems especially difficult- fighting tears right now in fact.  Its not as if I don't have a wonderful life.  I am healthy and happy and extremely blessed.  The last decade has been full.  So full.  College, marriage, babies, THREE BABIES, new homes, great jobs....all so wonderful. But somehow it feels as if I am turning a corner, leaving something behind. 

I wish I was one of those people who really embraced aging.  I wish I was someone who looked more distinguished with gray hair, and more voluptuous with a few extra added pounds. Instead, I just notice all the lumps, bumps, marks and wrinkles.  I think that the physical aspect of getting older really sucks.  What happened to eating anything I wanted and hardly gaining a pound?  Where did all the the athleticism go?  Anyone see my abdominal muscles lately...I think I have lost them.  I feel as though I am turning into a pile of mush on the outside- kinda like puberty in reverse.  Although I have heard that exercise can work wonders?!  Maybe I should try it sometime!

On the sweet side, I like how my heart has aged. The inside of me keeps getting better.  I am more sure of myself, more comfortable with myself and better friends with me.  I work less to impress people and work more to enjoy the moment.  Excitement has become a relative term.  Simple is better.  More pleasure is derived from watching my children sleep than some other big production. I have more patience and more acceptance.

How am I different at age 30?  I sleep less, remember less, and fear less. I weigh more, listen more and learn more.  I am older, and that is bittersweet.

Fruit and Friends

The benefits of living in orchard country: fresh fruit right off the tree! Our friends invited us to come and pick cherries with them yesterday morning. 

It was already scorching outside and it felt wonderfully cool under the shade of the well endowed branches.  Hannah's headband (her creation) reminds me of my Uncle Denny who is an expert in VW van repair and only ever wears flip-flops. Every time I looked at her I had to smile.

Ultimate concentration was required by Laurel who was learning how to spit out the pits.  I hovered nearby until she got the hang of it.

Fruit picking with kids means two things- the adults do most of the picking...

and the kids do most of the playing (and eating)!

But we did end up with lots of lovely cherries to enjoy now. Share your favorite recipes please!!