For my 30th birthday, Emily (my #bestforlife) gave me a necklace that says Happy30life. I claimed it as my hashtag for the year and have done my best to live in the midst of that. So here it is. The bullet point list of peaks and valleys from my big-bad-3-0.
Tomorrow brings 31 and a new hashtag #shellisfunat31...
— a surprise party with the most amazing cake
— an epic weekend away with my bests for wine tasting and champagne - my fav!
— CHOSEN continues strong and finishes year 1 with 16 teens
— Steven and Lindsey get married and I have a super hot date (thanks for coming best!)
— FINALLY move into the master bedroom and LOVE it so much!
— new roommates
— copious quantities of coffee with the biola loves
— headaches
— Sara comes to California and I am by her side for the beginning of her weight loss journey
— a baby shower for sweet Juliette and her mama my lifelong friend Jennifer Leigh
— even worse headaches
— TLC 2016 (my favorite weekend of the summer)
— the worst headaches EVER
— the Swopes of Hawaii spend a month in California and I love on little, bitty, and tiny a TON
— Carrielove comes to California - hello double ice-cream, bike rides, the great balloon, and T.Swift!
— sweet Juliette is born and I love that little lady! EEK!
— ROOTED rocks
— Breakfast dates are my fav
— CHOSEN year 2 kicks off with 24 teens and we add service projects and they’re amazing!
— Amanda falls in love with Tanner Wayne Roth (and soonly they get engaged)
— lots of broadway with Ally
— loads more coffee and a (greek food) park picnic with the biola loves, yes please!
— Susan came to California and we spent one glorious evening together. Perfection!
— Gan gets married
— Mands asks me to be a bridesmaid and wedding festivities kick into HIGH GEAR
— Adelynn turns 1 and Anna lives! (my heart still kind of can’t process that one)
— Kimie Lynn shows up on my doorstep and made me cry the biggest happy tears. I hate Texas.
— Frozen on Ice with Izzy Mae (and her mama) to celebrate her 4th birthday - is it possible that she is 4, really?!
— breakfast and catching up with BOTH Mindy and Melody when they’re in town for the holidays = a dream
— the Swopes of Hawaii are HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
— Rachel moves home from Australia - and I SQUEEZE HER TIGHT!!!
— TONS of movies with J - our annual attempts to see all Oscar Best Picture nominated films are my fav
— last coffee date of the year with Mands - an annual tradition I cherish on NYE
— DISNEYLAND with the Swopes - in ponchos and rain boots - memories for a lifetime
— the loveliest bridal shower for Mands (and a budding friendship with Shleybee)
— Lisa Laid comes to town - so we catch up over a drink (she’s a mama of 3 after all)
— TONS of beganwithabow design work for #tamanda2016
— lunch dates with Shalina and Liam are my fav
— Tyler Swope marries Bree and I get a new cousin - AND SHE IS A DELIGHT!
— the world shifts at AkinsParker which means a new title, perhaps a promotion, and I will take it all
— Amanda’s day of treats and more bridal party fun
— still tons of headaches
— the #greatcardiparty for 2016 means LOTS of cleaning out the closet since I’ve lost 90 lbs.
— Amanda looks amazingly beautiful and stunningly radiant as she says “I do” and becomes Mrs. Amanda Roth
— the Shell + J Oscar Party Extravaganza
— as much time with friends as possible - they are my heartbeat - and where I find so much joy
30 has been a challenging year - one of growth, one of letting go, one of tears and heartbreak and yet when I look at that list there is so much good as well. The Lord is so faithful and I want to choose to live in that FULLNESS instead of focusing on the loss or the sorrow or the pain. So here’s to 31 and all that is in store! I am sure it will be far more than I can begin to ask or imagine and I will rejoice in all He has prepared for me.
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