i'm turning 29...

In less than one week I will be 29 years old. It hurts a little if I am honest. You see, there are things I feel like I should have accomplished by this point in my life. Especially when I start comparing myself to others (and yes I know I shouldn't do that!). You see, I am turning 29 but I don't own a house, or have a husband, there are no kids on the horizon, I owe more in student loans than I make in a year, I live with three (3) roommates and couldn't afford to live on my own even if I wanted to. I don't know why I feel that a 29 year old SHOULD have a handle on those things, but I do - and it makes me feel like a bit of a failure. Sometimes I wonder if I have anything to be proud of. And because I want to combat the feelings of self-doubt and ridiculous wallowing and remind myself of all the wonderful and priceless experiences I have had, I decided to take inventory in my life. I want to have an appreciative and grateful spirit. So, here is a list of things I have done in my brief encounter here on earth. Hopefully as I type, I will become increasingly aware of how much wonderful there has truly been.

1. Learned to play the piano and read music (thanks mom)

2. Was part of the FAME program (Fine Arts Magnet Education) in elementary school and fell in love with the theatre

3. Learned to play the flute and then played first chair at Flying Hills Elementary and also played in the San Diego Youth Symphony

4. Did three (3) summer mission trips with Gateway Church and World Changers and learned the value a servants heart

5. Was part of the Gateway Youth Choir - Singing About Love & Truth (SALT) and visited CBU for the very first time

6. Was an editor for the Grossmont High School Yearbook

7. Went to Spain, Germany, Poland and Prague with the Red Robe Choir and experienced a lot of history in tremendous ways. I will forever appreciate WWII because of my experiences at Auschwitz and Birkenau. I never imagined I would actually SEE the end of those train tracks.

8. Was the Vice President of the Christian Club

9. Graduated from High School with an impressive GPA and even got an award at graduation

10. Researched a lot, took the SATs, Applied and GOT IN to California Baptist University with quite a few scholarships all on my own. Mom and Dad said I couldn't afford to go away to school and I made it happen (I have the student loans to show for it, but it was a dream come true)

11. Sang in the University Choir & Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Gary Bonner and was honored to be in a traveling small group as well

12. Worked as a summer missionary with World Changers through NAMB and Student Volunteer Mobilization. I met incredible kids with amazing hearts and got to see so many lives changed I cannot count. WC was hugely foundational in who I am.

13. Served as the Student Life Event Coordinator for Simmons Hall (aka the freshmen dorms) and met some seriously hilarious and absolutely amazing girls

14. Worked in elementary education at Riverside Christian Day School 

15. Graduated from CBU Magna Kum Laude as part of the Alpha Chi honor society with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Business Administration

16. Got into an MBA program immediately upon graduation and dove RIGHT BACK into my educational career (and again, I have the student loans to show for it. yikes bikes!)

17. Moved into "my own place" with lots of IKEA furniture and a bit too much excitement about roommates (I am still friends with a few, but let's be real, roommates are hard and I have had a LOT of them - I cannot even name them all anymore - but here is my best attempt - Lindsey, Adri, Rachel, Janice, girl whose dad paid rent, Shalina, Erin, Nicole, Carrie, Ashley, girl who only lived with us for a month, Katrina, Lindsey, Rebecca, Sarah, Rebecca, Laura)

18. Got my first real job at Ev. Free Fullerton in the Business Office and spent 4 years working with Jim Clark, Kathy Buchholz, Diane Freeman and a myriad of other fantastic people (KIRSTEN LOCKHART) who taught me how to be a good employee and spurred me on and encouraged me endlessly

19. Purchased Adobe Creative Suite and began using inDesign to design on the side...I even created a little company and named it began with a bow

20. Did a foreign exchange program at Oxford University and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

21. Graduated with a Masters in Business Administration and officially called my educational career COMPLETE

22. Said a tearful goodbye to friends at EVFree and started a new job at AkinsParker Creative as an Account Executive where my love for business and all things creative merged and my true career was born

23. Took my first trip to paradise (oh Hawaii how I miss you - and the members of my family you hold...less than 2 months and I WILL BE BACK FOR HUGS!)

24. Served as a counselor at TLC - a weekend camp for kids in the foster care system and realized I not only have a passion for adoption, but in general I have a heart for God's kids - I truly love them all

25. Coordinated a few weddings for dear friends like Amber, Shalina, and Carrie and a few others for church friends like Brian and Kristin and then coordinated one for a stranger and decided I was not cut out for all that work

26. Was a bridesmaid a few times (it isn't actually as many as you think - Jamie, Anna, Krista, Jenny, Jenny, Emily (soon Rebecca) - person of honor for Lisa and Rachel, and then technically you should throw in Carrie and Shalina because I was WAY more involved in their BIG DAYS than I would have been as a bridesmaid)

27. Welcomed lots of babies - Madeline, Charlotte, Izzy, Rory, Sienna and there a few more on the way - I sure do love being Aunt Shell - it is undoubtedly my favorite role in life

28. Bought a camera and decided I want to pursue photography on some level even if only for capturing personal memories in a beautiful way (I am second shooting my first wedding this summer - my friend Amber is probably CRAZY to have asked me!)

I guess that is appropriate - I can think of 28 things...so I should keep building from there...adding a 29 and a 30 because this is just the beginning, right?! There are so many more good things to come, so many wonderful experiences to add to the list. 29 is not old and it really won't feel any different than 28...at least that is what I'm gonna keep telling myself!