Thirty-one.

So, today was my birthday (or birfday to be more precise). I turned 31. I've recently discovered that I tend to look back and view my life through the years of my life rather than calendar years. Strange, I know.

See, 30 wasn't all that great. Not because it was "30" or because I was late for my quarter-life crisis. It kinda sucked because my husband was gone for 95% of it, I had to sell our house which was a nightmare, my sweet Grandfather died, and I had to move a long ways away from my friends and family, and Fletcher was the dog from hell the first 7 months I had him. Oh yeah, and Swiss was gone for 95% of it. Oh, wait... did I already list that one? My bad. Though it sucked enough to be listed twice for sure.

But on the plus side, 30 brought me so many amazing new friends, all of which were internet based (Brittany, sister from another mister! LAW! Jenny/Trixie! Jennifer! Lopsided Mom! Never Apart in Heart! Hillary! Bette! Hellcat Betty! USMCwife! Snarky Navy Wife! etc...) *I'm now realizing that I missed some awesome people- Sorry Kimba, Molly, Loquita, Slightly Salty, and Amy!* This I find to be utterly amazing for so many reasons and my sanity thanks you all, I feel blessed and beyond lucky to have witty, savvy and strong women like you in my life. 30 also cemented the most important friendships in my "real" life, Beth, Valerie, Emily, Shari... you all are amazing and you will likely never know how integral you all were to my making it through this year relatively intact. You 4 always amaze me, you are bright, bold, caring, and perfectly unique- and I am grateful to have you all in my life. 30 also made me grateful for the wonderful relationships I have with my Mom and Dad- you two are totally responsible for turning me in to what I am. I don't know if that is a good thing or not, but I'm guessing you'll take it.

30 also taught me how strong I really am. 30 toughened me up, made me less weepy and more resilient. 30 showed me that I growed up alright, and that my life was, against all odds, pretty amazing. 30 showed me that I really can do anything and that I am more than the sum of my parts. So, maybe 30 wasn't all that bad. But here's to 31... may all the wonders of this past year continue and may this new year, with Swiss home, be nothing short of spectacular. Fingers crossed, knock on wood!

Thanks dear readers, for making this past year a helluva lot better than I thought it would be! <3