32 Years Old

On Saturday I turned 32 years old. Even though I used to think the 30′s sounded old, now I think early thirties sound very trendy. Maybe it will be once I hit the late 30′s I will start thinking I sound old. But probably not.

I was thinking back on how thankful I am for where God has brought me over the last 10 years. It has been an incredible journey and I am always amazed at the growth that He has caused in areas that I didn’t even know I needed change in at the time. So I thought I would give a quick look back on the last 10 birthdays and share some personal ways God has been pruning my heart at these different stages of life. This is not to say I have arrived in any of these areas, but I praise God He has even opened my eyes to areas of change.

22 years old- State College, PA
Here I am in State College with my friends as a senior in college. Joe and I had been engaged for about 3 months at this time and he was out in California, having just been released from the Lakers and about to get picked up by the Suns. When I look at this picture, I am relieved that God did not keep me in PA for my whole life. This was the last birthday that I would ever spend after being in the U.S. for a full year. This was the end of a season of life and the beginning of a season where God has since been working on pruning me from my idol of comfort and ease.

23 years old- Rockford, Illinois
We were totally lame at taking pictures before we had kids. I guess “back then” people didn’t snap 100 shots of everything like they do now. But at this point, Joe and I were married and living in Rockford, Illinois where he was playing minor league ball. About a month later we would head to Greece for our first overseas experience. When I look at this picture, I praise God that he did give us children to get us out of our own little world where everything revolved around ourselves.

24 years old- Kansas City, Missouri
The only picture I have of myself for the whole month of December 2003 is this one of my at the end of my second trimester of pregnancy with Abby. I look back at this time when Joe was with Kansas City (ABA) and I think about the fact that my life was a JOKE. I slept in, went to work out, did a little school work (I got a diploma in nutrition science this season) and yet I still found things to complain about! This picture reminds of the fact that God has slowly (and patiently) shown me how very blessed I am. There is always reason to give thanks and over the years as He has given me tougher situations, I have actually grown more in thankfulness.

25 years old- Overland Park, Kansas
Here Joe and I are before one of our first dates in months. Our friends Brandon and Jill were giving us a date night out and watching Abby (who was almost 9 months old at this point). This was our first date since we had arrived in Overland Park 2-3 months before. This picture is a great reminder to me of how Joe and I have learned how important it is to keep our marriage central. We didn’t realize how focused we were on Abby until Elijah came along. I am so thankful God has given us the conviction of marriage until death and that it means making it a priority with our time and actions. And about two months later, Joe would take a job in Poland, so I am glad we got this date night in, because we wouldn’t have any babysitters there for a few months.

26 years old- Teramo, Italy
This was my first birthday spent overseas. And I don’t have a picture on my actual birthday, which tells me we didn’t do a whole lot. You might be able to tell from the grungy pony tail and wearing my husband’s team sweats that I am pregnant here with Elijah. At this point I was almost 5 months pregnant and I am pretty sure I was taking a nap every single day. This time of life is always a reminder of how quickly time goes. My little Abby has grown up so much since then. Older people always stop me when they see me with the four young children and tell me to enjoy it because it goes too fast. They usually tell me this on a day when I have cleaned pee up off the floor, mediated a few fights, had something broken and barely was able to get a shower, so I am slow to believe them. But time has continued to move faster and faster, so I want to slow down and enjoy it.

27 years old- Glassboro, New Jersey
After Joe’s season in Italy, his body was pretty broken down, so he decided not to take a job to start off the season, so we were home for my birthday this year and putting up our Christmas tree. Less than a month later we would be in Spain, but we didn’t know that at the time. This picture reminds me of how God has been working on me to fully embrace where I am. If we are overseas, I want to enjoy being overseas. If we are home, I want to enjoy being home. It can change in a moments notice, so enjoy what you have while you have it.

28 years old- Glassboro, New Jersey
The next year we were home once again, but this time not by Joe’s choosing. There were just no job offers this year. Less than two weeks after my birthday though Joe would be on a plane to Turkey. I am 5 months pregnant with Naomi here and would be headed to experience my second overseas birth. I think of all God had prepared for us for the coming year, but at the time of this picture, we were completely unaware. And at many times untrusting. Never would I have picked to go to Turkey for the upcoming season, but God was pursuing us with goodness and mercy and the next year was just a testament to the way God ordains each step for our good.

29 years old- Bandirma, Turkey
At age 29, we were back in Turkey again. This was another date night for Joe and I as our good friends in Bandirma stayed with all three kids while we went out (I think Naomi was asleep). When I look at this picture, I am reminded about how much God was humbling me at this stage in life. Time and again I was given criticism from others by His hand and it was such a wonderful opportunity to let go of pride and learn to humbly communicate and learn where others are coming from.

30 years old- Glassboro, New Jersey
For my 30th birthday, Joe and I were apart for the first time in many years. This season we were in Brindisi, Italy, but I went home for 5 weeks at the holiday time to spend time with family and friends and get established at the doctor for my pregnancy with Isaiah (4 months pregnant here). Joe surprised me with a new van for my birthday and my dear friend Charisse threw me a 30th birthday tea party (I would have put a picture of Re up, but she would have been upset with me). My parents and sister-in-law came from PA for the party and all of Joe’s family was involved in making it a special day for me. This picture is a reminder to me that family and friends are not something to be taken for granted. I am so grateful for the support we have received in our lives, marriage and travels from our family and friends.

31 years old- Barcellona, Sicily, Italy
Last year I celebrated my birthday in Sicily. Our dear friends Ryan and Eddie blessed us with a lunch date by babysitting Abby and Isaiah while Elijah and Naomi were at preschool. Joe then bought a cake and we had a little celebration back at the house. This was my 8th season overseas (only the 4th full one) and I am so thankful for the friends we have made in this basketball journey. We have been truly blessed to meet some of the most fabulous people because of basketball.

32 years old- Mariupol, Ukraine
And this year in Ukraine. Joe’s team had a game earlier in the day and then Joe had the other Americans and our friend who works for the team back afterwards for pizza and cake. Joe organized it all and his aim was to do whatever he felt would be a blessing to me (ie. low key and just hanging out…more my style). Waking up the next morning and seeing everything cleaned up by him was a reminder of how much growth there has been in his own life. I find this even more amazing because I have not always been a great aide to that growth through my nagging and complaining. God changes people, but He is doing more than what we can see with our own eyes. If you want them to change, I have learned you need to look at how you can change first and then let prayer be the tool that you use to work in their life. I am thankful that that is how Joe has worked for change in me over the last 11 birthdays that we have known one another.

Thanks for joining me on my little birthday journey. I pray God would continue to work His grace in my life over the next ten birthdays. Have a blessed week,