On the eve of my 30th birthday, I decided to
reflect back on the last decade of my life and the highlights of my twenties. It
seems impossible that time went by so quickly. I have been so blessed with a
wonderful life surrounded by amazing people.
1) Relationship with Jonathan (19 – forever)
Technically, I met Jonathan when I was 19—
four months shy of my twentieth birthday. Our relationship spanned my entire twenties! I'm so glad we experienced so much together.
2) Getting a Sister (Age 21)
My older brother got married when I was 21.
I got to be maid of honor at their wedding and I got a sister for the first
time!
3) Years at Grace College/Graduation (Age 22)
I would never say I regret going to Grace.
My best friends were there and I met my husband there. But sometimes I think, I went to college ten hours away from home and
I went to….rural Indiana? Sometimes I wish I would have gone ten hours
south or to a big city. Regardless, it was a good time and I think it had a
really fantastic education program.
4) Becoming an Aunt (Age 22)
Being an aunt is so much fun. I can have
fun with them, spoil them…then send them home! I became an aunt again two years
later and now I have a niece and a nephew. I love watching them grow! Being an
aunt is one of my favorite things in life.
5) Spring Break Trip to Ireland (Age 22)
It was cold and overcast most of the time,
but it was a fantastic trip. We flew to Dublin, spent a few days exploring
there then drove across the country. It was amazing and I met a lot of great
people.
6) First Real Teaching Job (Age 22)
My first job was a 2 long term substitute
positions for the same school district. For the first semester, I was the
literature and grammar teacher for special education students. I really loved
my students and became good friends with my teacher’s aide. The second semester
was as a second grade teacher. That definitely wasn’t my favorite class…but it
was a learning experience!
7) Friends Getting Married and Having Kids
(Age 22-- ?)
It is weird when friends start getting
married. It is even weirder when they start having babies. It was the first
time I started to feel old- like I was becoming a real adult. I remember
thinking that everything would change. I had the privilege of being in or
attending several of my best friend’s weddings.
I sat in the hospital for hours with the first of my friends to have a
baby. I have attended wedding showers, bachelorette parties, baby showers and
first 1st birthday parties. They were all very special moments. It
will be a blink of an eye and then I will be at Carter, Reed, Theo, and Cohen’s
graduations, weddings and baby showers (seriously… one of my friends has to
have a girl!) I love when my friends are happy. I am super excited that 2 of my
best friends are expecting now and both are due in May! It definitely takes
work to maintain friendships once you become adults. I’m so lucky that my best
friends have stood the test of time and distance!
8) Trip to Paris and The Central African
Republic (Age 23)
I remember calling one of my best friends,
Jessica, and telling her I had just signed up for a missions trip to Africa. I
never expected her to want to come too. That was the most eye-opening trip I’ve
ever been on and definitely a highlight of my 20s… and probably the rest of my
life. It was icing on the cake that we had a day layover in Paris and got to
explore the city. Experiencing it with Jessica made it even more special.
9) Trip to Vietnam (Age 24)
Yeah, I love to travel. So when the opportunity
arose for me to go to Vietnam, I was more than willing. The way it worked out
was really crazy, and I’m so glad it did. I met more great people and it was a
beautiful country.
10) First Teaching Job in Sixth Grade (Age 25)
Throughout college I always thought I
wanted to teach younger kids. I thought third grade was the highest level I’d
ever want to teach. But then, I got another long term substitute position
teaching sixth grade. I absolutely fell in love with that age. After that
position, I knew sixth grade was where I wanted to be.
11) Move to Ohio (Age 25)
It took me awhile to decide I wanted to
move to Ohio. Jonathan was in grad school in Ohio and I was living in
Pennsylvania and the long distance relationship thing was not working. If we
wanted a relationship that was more than just a phone call a day, I had to pack
up and move. So I did. My apartment in Ohio was the first time I lived alone.
No family. No roommates. It was a small
place that was always cold, but it was cute and it was all mine.
12) Teaching at Mansfield Christian (Age 25-29)
A lot of my MCS friends might not know
this, but I was actually first hired as the elementary art teacher. And not
because I was good at art. They just needed a teacher and I applied. I was
hired the week before school started. While I was packing up to move, the
principal called me and asked if I’d rather teach 6th grade. Uh,
YES! I still remember the exact place I was the first time I talked to a woman
named June Hagan. I haven’t stopped talking to her since that day! I spent
three years in sixth grade and loved every class. I moved to second grade for
my last year at MCS and had a fantastic year. I also loved my colleagues at
MCS. They were the best teammates in the entire world. I hope I am friends with
them for the rest of my life.
13) First Pet (Age 26)
I was never, ever, ever, ever a cat person.
I wasn’t really even a pet person in general. But when my parent’s farm cat had
kittens they were loveable and cuddly and I was smitten right away. Tico was my
favorite from the start, which is a good thing because he is the only one of
two that has survived!
14) Marrying Jonathan (Age 27)
Yeah, it took us forever to get married. But,
it was the right time for us and we couldn’t be happier. He makes me happy
every day and we have so much fun together.
15) Trip to Cancun (Age 28)
We took a trip with one of our best “couple
friends”. I think it is really special to have another couple that you can
vacation with. I know a lot of couples and I love them all. But, vacationing
with them takes something unique. It was a super fun trip and we have a pact to
leave the kids behind every so often so we can get away together.
16) Getting Another Sister (Age 29)
My other brother’s wedding was a few months
ago and he couldn’t have picked a better girl! I love Vanessa and I love how
happy she makes my brother.
17) The Great Adventure (Age 29)
The idea to go off on an adventure began a
while ago, but started to become more serious a year ago. I never expected that
we’d be in Maine… but I am glad we are. With the exception of the ridiculous
tax rate, we love it here and are glad we escaped for a year or two. We are only in the beginning- we have lots
more to do and explore!
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