29 for the first time

Another birthday rolled around for me last week . . . this one #29. It was good--busy (and tiring) but good, just like most days these days. I spent the morning with family and flowers.

I spent the afternoon and part of the evening at a women's conference for my church that I helped plan and organize.

My responsibilities at the conference included welcoming our 300+ attendees from the podium (eek!), introducing our various speakers and presentations, and moderating a group discussion (still with the 300+ attendees). Maybe not my preferred birthday activity, but I was glad to do my part and didn't sweat too badly.

I also got to participate in a slightly more comfortable part of the program with my cello. Back in Iowa I arranged a little string ensemble number for a church youth meeting--I dusted it off, pulled together some musicians, and we played it as our final musical number for the conference.

The chapel didn't have an orchestra pit or much open space in the front, so our little ensemble was in a very unconventional formation--but we made ourselves heard and our sound made me happy. The whole conference felt very successful, and I definitely felt like celebrating by the end--celebrating the great turnout and spirit of the meeting, celebrating that it was over, and celebrating 29 years with my baby and my sweetheart at home.

Twenty-nine is good, although a lot of the time I feel much older--perhaps it is the sleep deprivation or the bewildering fact that I have three children now. Also, I wasn't openly mistaken as a high school student this past year. And I'm okay with that.

I wish I could sleep a little more and shower more frequently. It would be nice to have a few more moments of calm and a few less moments that evaporate in chaos. But I guess fatigue, greasy hair, and fast-flying days are just part of this stage of life for me. And I'm okay with that.