July 19, 2012

“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” –Jim Rohn

Today is my 27th birthday.

As I thought about what I wanted to say in this post I tried to think of my BEST birthday.  See, birthdays in my family were a BIG deal.  Any of my friends from childhood will tell you that I didn't just have "birthday day" I had "birthday month".  Now, this is clearly a result of my OCS (only child syndrome) but I LIVED for my birthday.  I can't help but smile as I reflect on the many parties, cakes, and memories that filled my childhood.  But BEST birthday?  I don't think I can narrow down to just one.  Certainly, every phase of my life so far has had highlights...

The Washington Dells - Noah's Ark Water Park had this GIANT wave pool.  I remember floating on tubes with my best friend and taking turns jumping off to see how long we could battle the waves.  I remember feeling like I might not make it... and then be rescued back to the safety of my tube once again.  Also, water shoes were perfectly acceptable at Noah's Ark, and I loved the squishy sound they made when you walked. 

Iowa City, Iowa.  Several amazing birthday's were spent here.  My favorite included a large pink boa, a tiara, and some of the most amazing girlfriends I could ask for.

July 19, 2007.  On this day I drove to Denver.  My little red Escort was packed to the brim.  I remember the windows down, blue skies, and music playing.  I remember thinking I was a "big kid" now.

July 19, 2010.  Somewhere between these two dates I met a wonderful man and fell in love.  On this birthday he got down on one knee and proposed to me.  I remember saying, "Are you serious?" over and over.  He tells me that he said yes, and I did to.

July 19, 2012.  I no longer have "birthday month."  In fact, this year my birthday almost snuck up on me.  Now, some may say it is because I chose to marry a man whose birthday is July 20 (hello midnight, it's no longer my birthday), but really I'm starting to think as I grow older time seems to go at warp speed.  And I guess, what I'm slowly learning to embrace, is that change is a constant with age. 

As a little girl I jumped off the safety of a tube into the waves.  I didn't stop to think about consequences or possible outcomes.  I think I was scared, but I know it was fun.

As a college student I moved away from home.  I lived on my own for the first time.  I wore pink boa's and tiaras and probably drank too much.  I think there were a lot of times I was scared, but I know it was fun.

As a young adult I moved across the country with my best friend.  I didn't have a job, I was now responsible for paying bills (please reference OCS above), and I didn't have a real plan.  I think I was scared, but I know it was fun.

As a twenty-something I met a boy, I forged a friendship, I fell in love.  I got a dog.  I got married.  I spent a lot of money I didn't have.  I got a job.  I got another job.  I got a job I really love.  I saved money for the first time in my life.  I took a lot of trips. I laughed... a lot.  I cried.  I made mistakes.  I changed.  I can confidently say I'm scared a lot of the time, but I know it is fun.

So on day 1 of 27, I choose to celebrate change and all that comes with it. I choose to celebrate life and all the blessings I've been given. I choose to move forward, embrace fear, and have fun.  And I hope you will do the same.

Cheers!


Until next time,
A

Love

"When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because that is what love is. Love is not breathlesness, it is not excitement, it's not the desire to mate every second of the day, not lying awake at night imagining him kissing every part of your body. No, don't blush. I'm telling you some truths. This is just being in love, which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love, itself, is what is left over, when being in love has burned away. Doesn't sound very exciting does it?... but it is."

Knee High By the Fourth of July

"Funny how a melody, sounds like a memory. Like a soundtrack to a July Saturday night. Springsteen." -Springsteen, Eric Church

I was at the grocery store on Sunday afternoon with Matt stocking up on groceries for the week. We go to a store called Sunflower here in Denver. Sunflower considers itself a "Farmers Market" so usually the best deals are on in season foods. The fruit and veggies are always really great (and reasonably priced). I am always excited (yes, lame, I know) to see what new vegetables or fruits have came to the store over the last week. I enjoy trying new recipes and am always up to a new challenge (how many of YOU know how to accurately peel a pomegrante?) As I rounded the corner from the deli section I saw a large bin that was almost empty (empty usually eqauls something good) and then I saw the sign "Sweet Corn." Sweet Corn? On May 6th? I couldn't help but think back to my mom, and my uncles, and well, everyone in Iowa: "Sweet corn should be knee high by 4th of July." I looked over at the store patrons fighting over the last few ears of corn and smiled. I wonder if they have ever enjoyed corn that was picked fresh from the field that afternoon? I wonder if they have ever stopped at a stand on the side of the road and picked corn from the back of a pick-up truck?

Nobody can ever take away your roots. My roots are in Iowa. There are so many things I miss about the Midwest. I don't think you can appreciate miles and miles of corn (or soybeans) unless you hail from the Midwest. Each time I come home to visit I find myself staring out the windows of the car. How perfectly beautiful. How untouched. God has his hand in Iowa that is for sure.

Playing hide and go seek with the neighbor kids...not having to go home until the "Street Lights" turned on.

Playing Four Square in Elementary school. When there was still rocks at the bottom of the slides, not wood chips or other soft places to land.

Doing "penny drops" from the bars on the playground.

Gym class. Did you know that some kids in elementary school only have gym as a "track" now in school?

Jump rope for heart. Those large red balls that you'd sit on and bounce across the gym floor.

School "milk breaks", when you were always jealous of the kids that got chocolate milk... or if you were me, the kids that got orange juice.

Book fairs. Invent Iowa.

Being able to walk home from school.

Growth.

Degrassi Junior High being played during "Family and Consumer Sciences"... oh, how we have evloved from "Home-Ec"

Learing how to throw on the potters wheel. Having a teacher who inspired me.

Acting in a play.

Passing notes.

Going to Pella on class trip. Dancing among the tulips. Eating dutch letters.

Having my first boyfriend. Having my second boyfriend.

Having boyfriends.

Having a first love.

Having a best friend who loved me in spight of the boyfriends. Who loved my boyfriends. Who was there after the boyfriends.

Growth.

Running Living History Farms.

Going to Prom.

Going through hard times. Sitting at hospitals. Learning that family means everything.

Working at Dairy Queen.

Working at Ace Hardware.

Going to the Cabin. Going to the river. Going to Okoboji.

Having the kind of friends that dictate you to consider names like "Fearsome Foursome." Because it only seems right, and fitting, because they are family.

A perfect time where you don't really know what "responsibility" means, although you think you do.

Locker partners. Messy lockers. Cleaning out your locker at the end of the school year.

Senior skip day.

Graduation day.

Countless graduation parties. Other parties. Goodbye parties.

Driving away to college as my best friends stood in the driveway of the only house I've ever known.

Growth.

4th floor of Burge Hall.

Sorority rush.

Random roommate.

New roommate. Perfect.

Late nights. Pita Pit, Pancheros, Field House.

So Co and Lime.

New friends.

Kinnick Stadium. Best. Saturday's. Ever.

School.

Drama. Tears. Laughter.

Growth.

Too many Iowa T-shirts to name.

Ridgeland. Friends who would change my life.

Stratford. That red wall.

My grandmother passing. Making whoopie pies in the kitchen. Best friends letting me cry.

Night's at Charlie's with a forever friend.

Graduation day.

Graduation parties. Other parties. Goodbye parties.

The drive to Colorado.

Job interviews.

First bills arrive.

First call to mother to say, "Do you realize how much things COST?"

Growth.

July 19 will be my 27th birthday and will also mark 5 years in Colorado. For all consideration Colorado is now my home. I love it here. I love the weather, I love the people, I love the access to the outdoors. But I think it's easy to say a part of my heart remains in Iowa. Iowa - where thunderstorms can last all day, where rain falls in "sheets." Iowa- where you can catch lighting bugs in the middle of summer. Iowa- Where Saturday's in the Fall are reserved for Football. Iowa- Where "midwest values" are just "values." Iowa- where you can always go home.

And yes, Iowa - where the corn is knee high by the fourth of July.

Until next time,

Annalisa