On Turning 30.

Today I turned 30.  I feel like turning 30 is something people tend to dread more than be excited about, but I can genuinely say that I’m extremely excited about entering my 30s.  

It seems the dread of entering a new decade typically steams from a failed expectation of what life would look like by this milestone.  So as the big 3-0 approached, I’ve tried to keep it expectation free.  That said, I have been thinking more about the wonderful things in my life, who I’m becoming, and what I want to focus on.  These lists could be much longer, but here is a list of things I’m most thankful for and hoping for as I enter my 30s.

Gratefulness for…
-    My marriage to Matt.  I have to admit it, I’d probably be a lot more freaked out about turning 30 if I didn’t have Matt in my life.  I’m so thankful for my husband and the countless ways he makes my life so much better.  
-    Family and friends that feel like family.  I’m constantly reminded that the community of friends we’ve found in Nashville and the supportive families we have are a rare thing, and I don’t take either for granted.
-    Our church.  The fall Matt and I started dating we decided we needed to find a new church together.  We first visited a tiny church in Franklin and instantly found a home.  I could go on and on about how being a part of this church has changed me, but the two things I love the most are the way I’m constantly challenged by God’s Word and the amazing people.  
-    My work at Creative Trust Media. Since my teens I’ve been passionate about working with children and using media to make a positive impact for Christ in our culture.  I’m still in awe of the way God put me in the perfect job that allows me to exercise these passions in my work, especially when I wasn’t trying to find a job in those areas.  I’m so thankful to get to spend my days working on products with lasting value and with the purpose of helping families.

Hopes for this next decade…
-    I’m so excited about the work ahead of Matt and me.  I feel like we’re both finding that sweet spot where our God given gifts and passions are merging into careers that don’t feel like “work.” I’ve already shared about my job, but can’t leave out Matt’s latest adventure.  Matt’s in school right now to become a high school math teacher and the further he gets into the process, the more confirmation I see that it’s the perfect fit for him.  I love hearing about different students he helps at his tutoring job and the affirmation he’s receiving from his professors.  I get so excited thinking about future years of going to high school sporting events and interacting with the kids he’s impacting each day.  (The fact that we’re watching Friday Night Lights on DVD right now is probably adding to that…I want to be the Taylors. )  
-    I’ve officially entered that stage where the majority of my close friends are either expecting babies or have newborns.  I’m not saying I’m quite ready for kids, but I definitely hope that this decade brings that gift for me and Matt.
-    Lastly, I want to be a woman of self-control.  I’m sure this is something I will be working on my entire life, but it’s time to be more intentional.  A few examples: it’s too easy for me to say something negative or sarcastic that I shouldn’t say or eat something unhealthy that my body doesn’t need.   As I thought about the issue under causing these things, “self-control” is what keeps coming to mind.  As I practice self-control, I know many new doors will be opened to be who I am created to be.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-11

Our Country Kitchen

I love the view from our kitchen window.  An open field, a run down barn, beautiful sunsets.  It’s the perfect view for this Nebraska girl. 

Matt and I both love the “country” feel, so we decided to bring that country feel inside as the theme for our kitchen and dining room.  Since we’re decorating on a budget, we’ve been making those changes in baby steps.  We started out with a new paint color last year.  Last month we took advantage of the 50% off sale at Hobby Lobby and got a couple of things for the walls.  My Christmas money made it possible to buy the perfect long table on clearance as well as a couple of great Etsy finds.  Yesterday we completed the look by picking up custom-made benches from a sweet couple in Centerville, TN.  (Matt found them on Craigslist.)

Last night Matt worked hard to help me hang up all our recently found pieces to complete our country kitchen.  I’m loving the results and the process it took to get to this point. Our house is feeling more and more like our home.

P.S.  When you look at these pictures, use your imagination and pretend that we’ve already saved up enough for dark hardwood floors and that I’ve already put family wedding pictures in the window frame in the living room.

View from the front door.

View from garage entrance.

Closer look at the benches and my favorite part of the new table.

View from kitchen.  We found the candlesticks on ebay and I painted them with leftover paint from our bathroom.  Table runner is a Target find.  Hard to see in picture but the pieces by the chalkboard are mason jars that I’ll be putting fresh flowers in soon.  (etsy find.)

These are actually dish towels that we framed. I discovered them through “Country Living” and then bought on Etsy. 

Bonus find: this coat rack made out of old barn wood.  We spotted it at the place we got the benches from. We also spotted a shelf he made that we’re now saving for to fill a spot in the living room. 

Above the front door. It really does feel like a home finally, not just a house.