And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.: August 2009

Last night.. After Corrie and I waked our usual 3.5 miles with Cjae and Liana- We all decided to meet at the Dragonfly for dinner. It was a blast. The cutest thing happened when we were there. Corrie took Liana to the bathroom, and she was so excited to get back to the table, that she actually slid into the wrong booth, with people she didnt know. She got up to their table, and finally realized that she was with the wrong set of people! Too cute.

Liana, has also mastered walking Cjae on the rail trail. Cjae is so good with her, and its really the most adorable thing you will ever see. We have to always stay to the right in case of bikers, and Liana really enjoys counting the bikers as they pass. It also gives Corrie and I time to talk, which is excellent!

I love their family, and they are a huge part of Jim and I's lives...

"Twenty-three is old. It's almost 25, which is like almost mid-20s"
~Jessica Simpson

Well, today I turned 24... Wow..

I'm having several mixed emotions about being dangerously close to my mid twenties.... Next year, i'll be 25, and sure, i'm looking so forward to that signifigant drop in the price of my insurance.. but after that..

I guess its really not being upset about turning 24, its more about where I thought I would be, at this age.

I guess you always have dreams, and goals you set for yourself, throughout your life, and I would say mine would have been--to be engaged by the time I graduated college ( 22) to have a successful career by the time i'm 24 (ugh, there's that terrible number again) to be Married to the love of my life when I was (23). To be a mother when I was (25) and to be (30) when my first child started school.

Reality::

I graduated college when I was (24) I had a career when I was (22) I fell in love when I was (23) I went BACK to school when I was (24). I'm in a dead end job, at (24)-

24,24, 24!! Damn that NUMBER!

I will not be a wife, or a mother at the age of 25. *Life Happens*

It's not that im upset about being 24- 24 is still, so young.. but its about how fast everything happens when you're this age. I cant even remember what it felt like to be 18, or even 20. I wish we could stop there, all of us, knowing what we know now- and soak up everything that age has to offer. I can remember people telling me.. this is the best time of your life, and I really didnt understand it- that is- until now.

Now I get it.. I really do...

Carefree, free-spirited, the whole world at your fingertips- Life.. so much to look forward to...

My age (24)- where you're stuck in a job you really dont Love, BUT it pays the bills... and i'm lucky, granted, to have a job in these poor economic times. But who wants to say that, all the time?

However..

The BEST part, of being this age, is really understanding deep, meaningful, unconditional, true Love. Something you really cant grasp, until you're-(sigh) this age...

So without further ado, I will let you in on my *Secrets* of what I have learned while being 23.

365 days of being 23, taught me that no matter what, I need to make MYSELF happy.
While I adore my Nexxus shampoo and conditioner, I’m learning that $2 Suave Professionals Shampoo and Conditioner (comparable to Biolage) actually works fantastically!
I have an unhealthy obsession with sugar free red bull
I'm thankful for my best girlfriends-Emily, Ali, Chrissy, Brittany.
It’s okay to change your mind, a million and a half times- and you will...
I'm generally just a messy person.
I can't change the world, or any of the people in it
My inner strength is stronger that I have ever thought possible. I have truly been tested this year, but I”m still standing.
There is (PLENTY) of room in my heart for Forgiveness.
That your family may not always be there, but your friends will always pick you up- and give you the support you need to get through.
That just because your friends are getting married, and having children.. that doesnt mean its the right time for you to do it..
That things will naturally fall into place, in time.
Don't put off your dreams. None of us are guaranteed another day.
It’s not so much what you say that counts, it’ how you make people feel.
No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something.
In work and business, when they need you more than you need them, you have succeeded.
Remember, change happens for a reason. Roll with it. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
Keep things to yourself, that could potentially hurt someone else.
Trust, but verify ( Thanks, Jim!)
You may not always get what you WANT, but you will ALWAYS get exactly what you need.
That no matter HOW MUCH you think you can eat anything you want... YOU CANT. it will catch up to you, I promise..

SO, FAREWELL 23- HELLO 24! On to this new, and exciting chapter in my life!

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ON ANOTHER ( less heavier) NOTE!
I spent my birthday with the Man I love- We had an incredible dinner (we both LOVE to eat!)
at Sargasso- they were out of Salmon (blah) but I had another fish (seabass) instead. He bought me two cards, that I adore- One romantic, the other, funny :). He always does that- it's really the cutest thing ever. I think he does that because we base our entire relationship on humor-and we constantly try to "outfunny" the other. It's really the best thing, ever... He bought me some new fragrances from Victoria's Secret, and also a sleep set.. some lotion, etc. I loved all of it!