Yesterday was my birthday. I just turned 26, which admittedly, is not a very exciting age. There is no new adventure to be had, no new privilige earned, no new phase of life--in fact, I'm pretty sure nothing changed but the date. In spite of an obvious lack of change, it was a great birthday. Here are some reflections on my life at 26:
1. It was my first birthday as a mom. Asher is now 4 months old and I have never known so strongly that I am fulfilling a calling from God on my life. When I look in those blue eyes, I am moved with love and joy (partly because, he got his eyes from his daddy). Asher is growing up so fast and I am amazed at how God designed him to fit so perfectly into my life. I feel the great responsibility of joining my husband in raising our little man to have a relationship with his Creator. I am excited for the day I hear him say that is his desire. I believe God when He said that if we train our children up in His ways that they will not soon depart from them.
2. Dallas Martin Golden. Wow, I feel like just typing his name should say it all. To me, Dallas is a steady rock, a strength I don't have, a bulwark (over the top?) no matter where life take us. He is always striving to be better even though he is the greatest man I know. He makes me laugh when I've decided to be mad, he helps me think it through when I want to rush in, he gives me perspective when my world view shrinks to only me, and he encourages me in, well, everything. God knew what He was doing when He made Dallas and then brought us together. We are a great team and we are getting even better with all this parental practice we are getting. And, on top of all of that, he gave me a very happy birthday yesterday!
3. My little sister got married. She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Luke McLeod. I have to be honest, Megan Leigh McLeod, is weird for me to see or say; but, I will get used to it soon, I'm sure! Her wedding was beautiful and she, as always, was gorgeous. I look back and remember the many prayers I have said for her over the years...that she wouldn't go through the insecurities that I did, that she would make the right choices, that she would follow hard after God...and I know that I worried too much about her. She is a wonderful, confident, outstanding woman of God who married a man that I know will lead her to even more in her life that any of us can imagine.
4. My birthday reminded me that 30 is not that far away! I'm not scared of turning 30, but I don't want to get there and look back over the last 4 years wishing for more. I want to commit this year to more, more love, more passion for God, more energy (those toddler years are coming!), more family time, more of the things I am called to do...more.
5. Slightly opposite of my last reflection, I'm learning to be...content, I guess. Haha, obviously not there yet. (Just to clarify, I'm not having some internal war, just saying that I want more of what I need more of and to be content in the areas that are just me wanting to skip ahead.) I don't want to wish time away for sure. I want to enjoy every moment with my son especially. I just keep waiting for that proverbial "there" that I want to get to. I need to stop thinking about that, life is perfect, but I would like to live closer to family, own our house...on and on...list that I have going. Most of the things I want are going to happen soon enough and I have a hunch I won't care about the rest.
All said and done, I have to say that I think my life is pretty good at 26. I'm excited to see where we go from here! (But I don't want to jump ahead, haha!)
