Thirty

 Me with my parents {circa 1980}

 Me with my Grandpa and Nana

After college, one of the first interviews I ever went on, I was asked the age-old question, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” I gave some canned response but the truth is, I didn’t really know. I had some vague ideas of how I expected my life to turn out, but nothing really concrete.

 Angela and me

 

 The Voyles {1986}

With no definitive goals in mind, I had various thoughts floating around in my head of what I assumed I would have accomplished by age 30. Today I turn 30 and there is a part of me that feels like I failed in not reaching these goals… I thought that I would be well traveled, that I would have a job I loved and that I might have started a family by now. In reality I am where I am because of the choices I made, I have traveled quite a bit {the focus of my travels shifted to visiting family instead of exploring the world}, I’ve had several jobs that I liked {but most recently had to leave because being with my husband was more important that any job} and we have yet to start a family {though we did adopt our dog, Sophie, last year}.  

 The Voyles visiting Papua New Guinea {1994}

High school/church youth group friends {1998}

Overall I have a really good life and I am blessed in many ways, but a small part of me still feels like I have somehow failed. Daniel thinks I need to shift my thinking and focus on the things I have accomplished instead of dwelling on what I think I have missed out on. Of course he is right, but that is easier said than done.

 Angela, me and Mark in North Bay, Ontario

Mark and me

29 was a really hard year for me. It brought a lot of change. And turmoil. And uncertainty. Loved ones were suffering and there was nothing I could do. For four long months, I lived six hours away from Daniel. In a lot of ways it was a tough year, but it also provided opportunities to grow as a person. 29 showed me what I was made of.  

 

College roommates: Lisa and Julie

 Me with Roxy, who introduced me to spelunking

So here I am at 30. I hope that the things I had expected to accomplish by 30 will come to fruition {maybe in the next 10 years?}. I hope that I make peace with who I am and that I will be thankful for what God has given me and for what is in store for my future. The first 30 years have been pretty amazing, but I hope that the next 30 years are the best years of my life.

 In Europe, hiking in the alps and touring Rome {summer 2000}

My Next Thirty Years by Tim McGraw
I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

 Daniel proposes {spring 2002}

College graduation, the Voyles {and Daniel} with Grandma and Grandpa Davis {May 2002}

Hey my next thirty years I’m gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I’ve done
Maybe now I’ve conquered all my adolescent fears
And I’ll do it better in my next thirty years

 

Getting married {December 16, 2002}

Rock climbing trip

My next thirty years I’m gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I’m doing here
In my next thirty years

Trip to Mexico for friend's wedding {we drove 36 hours EACH way}

 

One of many hiking trips

Oh my next thirty years, I’m gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I’ll remember my next thirty years

 Backpacking, Mt. Rogers, Virginia

Climbing South Sister Mountain in Oregon

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years 

Karaoke with friends from work

 Max Patch, North Carolina with Daniel and Sophie