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Thirty eight..... 38.....almost 4 decades...been out of high school for 20 years.... out of college for 16.... have an eight year old...married for almost 14...
No matter how you phrase it, 38 years is a long time. I joke a lot about my younger years. Its true I have more wrinkles and a few more pounds with my advancing years. I was asking myself last night, if I could go back would I? If I could time travel back to 1993, college graduation day and relive the past 16 years would I take that opportunity?
Sure there are many things I remember fondly about those years. It was nice to not have any responsibility. It was awesome to be a size 6. It was amazing to feel like at that moment I had the world at my fingertips and the opportunities were endless. I was passionate about saving the world. I left WKU with my little degree and was determined to help people- to make a difference. My mom and dad were still here on this Earth with me. I could go on and on about all the positives that time in my life held for me. I could also go on and on about all the things I would change. But would I go back?
Not a chance!
I'll take my husband and two beautiful boys, my mortgage, my bills, my extra pounds and wrinkles, and my thirty eight year old self over my younger one any day. I'm still passionate about saving the world only on a different level now. :) The experiences in my life whether good or bad have led me to the person I am today and while I'm still a work in progress far from perfect (and never will be), I love me and my life. The Lord has worked on me through the years and there's still a lot left to do but I wouldn't trade where I am in my walk with Him today for younger years. Time has weeded out acquaintances I thought were real friends and left me with true and deep bonds of friendships with people who have stood beside me through the good times and the ugly (and there have been some ugly times). Experiences and wisdom that come with age have allowed me to let go of self consciousness and embrace personality traits in myself that I once prayed would change.
So today I count my many blessings and I thank the Lord that I am His daughter; Jim, Harve, James, Jimmy, Mike's wife; Avery and Aidan's mother; and Bob and Joyce's daughter. I am humbled and touched beyond expression at the many people I get to call friends, best friend, and family. And I love you all!!!!
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