30 Things {A Birthday Post!}

St. Thomas, USVI
photo cred: Sister

Tomorrow I turn 30! My brother and his girlfriend gave me a card last week that said, “30: It’s like 29...only better.” :) I’m excited about this next decade. Life is a gift from the cradle to the grave, and every year is precious. I can hardly fathom my 20s are over! Some of my favorite moments in all of life happened in my 20s. Some of my hardest moments, too. The things I’m most proud of took place in my 20s. And the things I’m least proud of happened in my 20s. The last decade has been joyous and painful and exhilarating and heart-wrenching and life-changing and monotonous and full. And God has used it all! Every bit of this last decade. He hasn’t wasted one experience. I’m grateful for my 20s. In a farewell of sorts, here’s a list of the 30 things I’m most grateful for from my 20s:

photo from last week's surprise party!

1. Grateful to have graduated from Biola University. My college career was so circuitous! I’m glad Biola was my final resting place. ;)
2.  Grateful to have been able to attend Biola with my Sister!
3. Grateful for my Sister. A friend through all of my 20s. The best kind of friend.
4. Grateful for the experience of living in New York City for two years.
5. Grateful for those 9A roommates in New York City.
6. Grateful for the hilarious retail memories from working at the Rockefeller Plaza J. Crew store with my dear friend Sarah.
7. Grateful for the opportunity to have spent a gap year overseas after high school with Operation Mobilization.
8. Grateful for a Mom who first floated the idea of a gap year.
9. Grateful for those six weeks in Israel during the summer between my sophomore and junior year of college.
10. Grateful for that summer roadtrip through the American West with two wonderful college friends.
11. Grateful for summers at Camp-of-the-Woods.
12. And summers in Oklahoma.
13.  Grateful for girlfriends who have known me through every season of the last decade.
14. For parents who loved one another and loved me. And helped point me, at an early age, to the love of God.
15. For five siblings. Grateful for the countless birthdays, graduations, moves, and life changes we’ve celebrated together in the last decade.
16. Grateful for the opportunity to travel with my family to Lima, Peru on a missions trip.
17. Grateful for that extension trip to Machu Picchu. High altitude and all! ;)
18. Grateful for the lives of Lon Solomon, Timothy Keller, John Yates, and Eric Metaxas.
19. Grateful for all the wonderful churches I’ve attended in the last 10 years, but most especially for McLean Bible Church, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and The Falls Church Anglican.
20. Grateful for my friend Jenna, who started dating Adam, who led a small group for single guys that my future husband attended.
21. Grateful Andrew asked me out on that last first date.
22. Grateful that after all those years of praying and hoping and wishing for a husband, God brought me someone who completely surpassed my wildest hopes and dreams.
23. And in-laws who surpassed my wildest dreams, too!
24. Grateful for the ministry, mystery, and magic of marriage.
25. Grateful for that rascally puppy we brought home together.
26. Grateful for the life of C.A.M. Wagner.
27. Grateful for my Dad's life. Every day with him since February 9, 2004 has been a gift. 
28. Grateful for grace.
29. Grateful for joy.
30. And, most of all, grateful for Jesus.