An Ode to My 20’s

Today’s the day! Today, I leave the fun 20’s behind and enter into the “Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving” decade. Except I most definitely am not flirty haha. What I’ve quickly come to realize, though, is that I am leaving such an important decade behind. So many important things happened during my 20’s, that it feels monumental to enter into a new decade! Let me give you a recap.

20’s: The decade that I married my high-school sweetheart. We had nothing. When I say nothing, I literally mean nothing. Like, didn’t even know how we would eat nothing. The night we got married, we ate chili from serving bowls with serving spoons because we didn’t have silverware yet. It felt so silly at the time, but it’s a memory I now cherish. In this decade we learned that fighting is not fun, prioritizing is important and, most importantly, God should be the center of your marriage.

20’s: the decade in which I graduate college and entered into a career I had always dreamed about! I just knew it was my calling to educate little minds and to give them a chance! I wanted to be the one voice that empowered and encouraged them when the world shouted back “YOU CAN’T DO IT!” This was the decade I began my career and then found home here at SMS.

20’s: The decade that I welcomed not one, but TWO of the most precious gifts that God could have ever blessed me with! This is also the decade that I learned that I had NO clue what I was doing as a parent and that sometimes when you open your mouth, your mother’s words just come out. I’ve found myself repeating sayings and phrases I didn’t ever think I would. This is also the decade I realized that you never know what to expect with kids. I found myself saying “You can’t eat dog food,” “Don’t lick that,” “Don’t throw cars in the toilet,” and “Stop licking your brother” on more occasions that I dare count. But, I’m leaving this decade with so many priceless memories that these sweet boys have gifted me with. I am blessed that God chose me to be their mom!

There are so many other happy, monumental milestones that my 20’s brought, but it also brought some hard life lessons that have impacted who I am today.

My 20’s was the decade that I learned how quickly things fall to pieces when you don’t follow God’s will for your life! My 20’s was the decade that we lost everything financially. Where we encountered a period of separation, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety. The decade that I faced what felt like a near-death experience in the emergency delivery of my 2nd son. A decade in which I lost one of the most influential women in my life. A decade where relationships were broken, but restored.

Perhaps the most important lesson that I learned in my 20’s was that there is sweet mercy, restoration, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ! I learned that, when you choose to put God first, he will give you more than you could ever ask for! I’ve learned that relationships can be so much sweeter, your calling so much higher. So, despite the good and bad memories and lessons that I learned in my 20’s, returning to God will be the most life-changing. I wish I had time to fully recount my testimony in detail for you, but you’d get tired of reading.

Today I enter my 30’s in the best place I could be: a place of surrender. My 20’s were big. My 20’s were lifechanging. But, God is writing a NEW, LIFE CHANGING, and EXCITING chapter for this decade. This is the decade I choose to FULLY put God first. To fully surrender myself to His will. He has big plans for me. This is the decade I will leave my career behind to follow God’s calling to some of the greatest mission fields: my kids and an online community to support mothers and women who struggle with similar anxieties and trauma. This is the decade I choose God! This is the decade that I will continue working on leaving a Godly legacy behind for the day He calls me home. The decade that I will let His words flow through me and overflow. The decade where I will unashamedly share what God has done for me!

No matter which decade you are in, it’s never too late to return to God. Remember, every up and each down you’ve experienced is to glorify our great maker. He breathed initial life into you, but he can breathe a new and refreshing spiritutal life into you too! No matter your decade, I encourage you to choose God! Run back to Him. He is there, waiting, with arms open wide!

Here’s to my 30’s (as I clink my coffee cup)! I’m glad you’re joining me in the journey.

-In His Name

Heart & Home