(not so) Wordless Wednesday... Today I'm 33.

Today I turn 33 and several people have asked me how I feel about it.  To be perfectly honest, I haven't given it too much thought.  I didn't realize 33 was such a big deal. But the more I think about it, I realize maybe 33 is a big deal.

Several years ago when Jarrett and I were going through fertility treatments, the doctors would always say, "It's great that you are so young, once you turn 33 you move into a new category where we consider you at a higher risk if you were to get pregnant."  Who knew.  I guess this is one of the many "new categories" of joining the mature women's club, I'll get to experience with each passing birthday.  And as I think back to what those doctors would say, I sit here now, at 33, and rejoice.  I"m 33 and my prayers have truly been answered.

They were just answered in a way completely different than how I pictured it and had it planned.  If at 23, someone told me in the next 10 years, you are going to have to help your husband through a life-threatening disease, suffer painful years of wanting to be a mom and not getting to be; followed by the rejoicing gift of adoption, not once, not twice but three times; I would have told them they were crazy.  The truth is, that all of those things are exactly that, the truth. 

People always talk about wanting to go back to when they were a certain age, maybe high school, maybe college, maybe their early 20's.  For me, I'd decline the offer each and every time.  Turning 33 really isn't bad, it isn't necessarily really that great either.  What I've come to realize is that age is just a number and life isn't about how many candles are on your cake.  Life is about the experiences that happen between one year's cake to the next. 

The truth is, I've been blessed with one heck of a life and I try to remind myself each and everyday to give thanks.  Yes, I still complain, I wish for things that really aren't that important and I dream about what life would be like if we had more space for our stuff, if we had the money to go on exotic vacations and if I wouldn't have to clean my own house.  I guess that's just human nature right? (Please reassure me it is.)  But when the sun sets each night and I lay my head on the pillow, I can't help but think, man am I lucky.  I really do have each and everything I EVER wanted and it's all right here, right now.

So as I celebrate turning 33, I'm so thankful. I'm thankful for a spouse who sacrifices so much to give me the flexibility and support in being the best mom and wife I can be.  I"m so thankful for the three little voices, that call my name 177 times a day (and that's not an exaggeration) and the dog that barks begging for food at each and every meal.  I'm thankful for the family that I've been blessed to be born from and married into and I'm thankful for such wonderful friends.   So many blessings and so much gratitude.

As my 33rd year of life begins, the best way to describe it is...

Grateful.  Blessed.  A life fulfilled.

Until next time,
angie