Sunday, August 22, 2010

Getting Older


I turned 29 this week and I'm pretty happy about it.

A lot of people have asked me if it was difficult with the "dreaded" three-oh right around the corner, if I'll have a hard time letting go of my twenties, etc, etc. The truth is, I love getting older, and even more than that, I love the life I'm living right now.

The older I get the more sure I am of what's truly important in life and I soak it in. Sure, I may have packed away the short skirts and cutoff shorts, but what I traded them in for has so much more value...motherhood. For the first time in my life, I see very outward signs of evolution in my heart, mind, and spirit and it spurs me on to do more and be more. I love that.

I'm less concerned about what other people think of me and run hard into the purposes God has paved before me.

I definitely was that mom that wanted all her kids popped out by 30, but God has shown me such a bigger picture of what he's called our family to be. And truth be told, I hope we still have kids into our 50's and 60's. There are so many unwanted, "unadoptable," orphans out there that need families...and we're a family.

One of the facts that hit my heart, this weekend, is that I will have started and ended my twenties married to Ben. I love that. I love him. When I shared this with my pedicurist, yesterday, and how much I look forward to starting and ending my 30s, 40s, and 50s, with Ben,  she said, "There are no guarantees in life."  Although, I know this to be true, God gives us such specific recipes for great, godly marriages. I know God has given me everything I need to be the wife he designed me to be and the same holds true for Ben.  We have overcome many obstacles in our 12 years together and I'm so thankful for God's hand in our relationship.

I don't know what this year of 29 holds for me, but I know it's good. I know it's good because God is good and has given me more joy than I deserve, this year.

Thank you for all your warm wishes. My heart is so full and your presence in my life is a big contributor!

26 comments:

  1. My 30's have been my best years yet. Can't wait to see what God has for your family this year. Love you

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  2. What a wonderful post! Happy Birthday!

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  3. Happy birthday! What a beautiful outlook on life and what wonderful sentiments about your husband. Conversation about marriage along the lines of what you posted in your blog is heard far too infrequently today.

    My huband and I are adoptive parents, and I have stumbled across your blog many times through adoption channels (today, through Faith's blog at http://eidsonfamilyjourney.blogspot.com ).

    Just thought I'd pop in and leave a Happy Birthday comment! Your son, by the way, is ADORABLE!

    Elizabeth

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  4. when i am not crying and whining about foster care ( *smile* ) I too hope the older we are, the more kids we welcome into our family.

    happy birthday :)

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  5. Happy Birthday! (belated) :) You know the 30's really are great. I really think its when most people blossom. At least, that's what I've seen from everyone I've known over the past few years (myself included) that have turned 30. Love it.

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  6. Welcome to the world of "almost 30"! I turned 29 in February so I am almost at the home stretch. It stressed me at first but I am more comfortable with it now.

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  7. Happy Birthday, you definitely have a lot to be thankful for & to celebrate! You are living a life that I am confident the Lord is proud of & I am sure He will continue to pour out blessings on you and your family!

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  8. This post makes me smile! What a great outlook. Happy Birthday!

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  9. I LOVE how positive you are! glad you had a wonderful birthday!

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  10. You really should check out Erin. You will like her. Adoptive mom of 2. Christian. PCOS warrior. http://afreshlymilledlife.blogspot.com/

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  11. Oh Rebekah. I just love you so much. Im so glad you embrace life and all its stages. Im missin my hugs from you.

    R

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  12. Happy Birthday. I forgot from last year your birthday is around the same as mine. I turn 29 today. I love your outlook on life. I love how positive you are. That is fantastic. Happy Birthday to you too. :)

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  13. You know, I never wanted to turn 30. I hated the thought of getting older--it scared me. But, when I turned 30 I was amazed at how much it changed me (for the better I think). My year #30 was surely a time of renewal and healing in my life, and I can honestly say that yes, getting older is a great adventure. Hope you have a fabulous year of ending your 20't and even more fabulous next year of entering your 30's. ;-)

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  14. Happy bday! I just recently found your blog and I spent WAYYYY too much time here today LOL. Your blog is amazing. Your story is even more amazing. and the strength of both families is wonderful~got you book marked!

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  15. Happy, happy birthday! You know, I thought about similar topics on my most recent birthday (I turned 27). It's funny how when we're younger we decide that we'll do "this" by "this age" and we get older and realize that sometimes God has other plans for our life. It all works out as it's meant to, not how we think it will. I love that you have resigned yourself to enjoying the ride and looking forward to what comes next.

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  16. Happy and wonderous birthday our sweet Rebekah! I love that you always embrace every lesson and moments of love, laughter, tears that life brings you. The depth of your heart is lovely and I am excited that we get to have you in our lives. I have always enjoyed getting older experiencing each season of life just as I did with the seasons of my girls lives as they grew up. God blesses you dear Rebekah and here is a big hug to bless you some more as you jouney into the celebration of your 29th year! I love you!
    Debbie

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  17. I love it! It's so sweet to think that the most important person in your life has been a part of this decade and will continue to be for many more to come. For some it is hard to understand but you have the opportunity to be that light. You already are!

    I believe 30s have been the best so far (at least for me). I spent my 20's discovering who I was in Christ and now I am growing confidently everyday to embrace all that He has for me and allow Him to use me for things I never imagined. God is good!!!!
    Happy belated birthday!

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  18. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU for your blog. I just came upon it and I can relate to everything you say. We have also been blessed by adoption, our little boy just turned one, and we have an open adoption. Your words speak to me, refresh me, and encourage me. It's so hard sometimes for others to understand open adoption and the love we have for the birthmom, but you put it perfectly. God is so good! And his plans for our life is perfect!

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  19. My 30's are so much better than my 20's were! I hope you had a great birthday.

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  20. None of us deserves the joy God gives, but we can all be thankful for it. Thank you for the joy you have given me.

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  21. Happy birthday !!!! You have such a great positive outlook on things it is refreshing. One thing though, maybe sometime you could share a post about how you and Ben met, fell in love, etc? I think this would be really lovely to know, as your marriage is so admirable it would be nice to hear all the sweet details of how it all began. :)

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  22. Great picture Rebekah! You are a beautiful person inside and out! And by the way, 30 isn't so bad! :)

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  23. Happy birthday!!! There is a vibrant wisdom that comes at this part of life that is so awesome. I love it.

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  24. Love this post, Rebekah, and I love this place of contentment and maturity that you are in at this stage of life! I, too, was one of those who wanted to have her children in her 20s. I married pretty young (at 21) and thought it would go just as I thought. God had other plans, though, and I'm constantly learning to love where I am in life now, which includes letting go of some of those old expectations. I'm convinced that what you and your husband have been through together in this last decade will lead to reaping great rewards in your 30s!

    Happy (belated) birthday!

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