Turning 31....

Was fun!  Until I realized it's been a decade since my 21st birthday celebration.... yikes! :) 

Image via here.

Ten years ago I was....
....living with Michelle in Davis.
....in my second quarter of my third year at UC Davis.
....about to embark on one of the coolest jobs I'd ever have in April working for the California State Assembly.
....studying lots.  And by lots I mean literally studying for a midterm on my 21st bday with my friend Johann instead of partying!
....single thinking about giving someone a third chance.  Which ended up being the last chance!
....thinking about what I wanted in life.... where I wanted to live.... what I wanted to do.
....didn't know that I was going to meet the love of my life later that year.
....enjoying my friends who celebrated my bday in style with me at TGI Fridays after my midterm.
....laughing now remembering what a crazy fun night that was!

Looking back at all the birthdays in-between....
....Brian has been there for each one, outdoing himself every time.
....I've accomplished a lot in the last decade.
....I have a lot more I want to do and I know that where I want to go in ten years is probably no where near anything I can possibly imagine.  And I love that about life.
....I have a great family who always calls, texts and/or mails cards on birthdays.  And I wish I was better at remembering.  I'm working on that.
....I'm lucky I have such great friends.  I love that I look back and every year that family of friends keeps growing.
....that in such a short time (ten years is short in my book!), there have been all these new babies in our world to love and watch grow.  Especially our nephew and niece, whom I adore (and so does their Uncle Brian!).

Looking forward at the next ten....
....I want the next ten years to be even better.
....love that I know I get to share them with Brian.  Good and bad, we are in this together baby! :)
....I want to do big things.  And I have no idea right now what they will be.  I love that.
....I want to move back to the Sacramento area, but my life is here now.  I know this will be an emotional decision if we finally do it.
....I want to travel somewhere exotic to us.  France or England or Scotland or Australia or New Zealand.... take the Alaskan cruise we've been wanting.  It may have to wait 14 years until the house is paid off, but we will do it.

I don't know....
....if we will ever have kids.
....how we will survive the day our beloved pets, Scarlet and Nala, are gone.
....when my brother and sis-in-law will be back from the east coast.
....what the future holds.  It's scary and exhilirating all rolled into one. 

All I can say is that this birthday I felt the love and I love my life.  I love my husband.  I love our home and our pets.  I love my family.  I love my friends. ♥ Life is good. ♥

Special thanks to my husband for the best birthday yet.  Amazing date...amazing day off... the best birthday breakfast and dinner... most delicious cake yet.  You truly are the best and I love you so, so much sweetie!