30 and Loving it!
Well, this past weekend I turn 30!!!! Not sure how that happened, because it seems like just yesterday I graduated from high school and started dating Clay. Surprisingly though, I was actually looking forward to my birthday and not dreading it like my past couple of birthdays. Plus, I got to do a 30th birthday session with the wonderful Angelina White Photography.
She did such a great job! As a photographer I am more comfortable being the one taking the photos. I am not that thrilled with being on the other side of the camera, but she did a wonderful job. We decided to go to the beach for the session, not thinking that its below 40 degrees and windy. So, me being a smarty, picked a off the shoulder, lace top and a chiffon skirt to wear. Lets just say my body was numb by the end of the session, but it was worth it. There were the most amazing cherry blossom bushes along the way that we had to stop and do photos. They turned out to be my favorites from the session!!
My first thought on what to write for my 30th Birthday blog post was 30 things about me, but I soon realized I am pretty boring :).
I dont know if most people are like me, but literally every year since I turned 21 I would just dread my birthday. I would alway just start feeling like such a failure because I was another year older and in my mind, I felt like I should have been further along than I was.
Well fast forward to this past December and being in the hospital and being told by the doctors, that "this could have killed you." My attitude towards growing older has changed dramatically. FOR THE BETTER! After I got out of the hospital, I have purposed to spend time with God everyday. This open my eyes to receive a-lot of wisdom and revelation regarding different things. One of those revelations was this...
Jeremiah 29:11,13 "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome...Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me and find Me when you search for Mw with all your heart"
I had been so busy worrying about "MY" plans and how "I" could get further along, and what "MY" next step was going to be, that "I" never felt like I was getting any where. I, I, I... so what I started to notice was I was not really focusing on God and making Him apart of my plans for my business and goals in life. Going forward it makes me feel a lot better reminding my self that God sees the bigger picture and plan for my life. So, as I kept digging deeper in my time with him and like it says in James...
"Draw near to me and I will draw near to you." James 4:8
When I did that He really drew near to me and showed me a lot of wonderful things regarding my life and what I need to be doing going forward. I am not Sarah, Matthew, Mandy or who ever. I am Ashleigh, and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. There is no one else like me, and I have a different race to run than other people. I was making my self feel miserable by comparing myself to other people. Seems like a no brainer, but it took me 30 years to get it.
Did you know that
- At 18 Tommy Hilfiger opened his first clothing store.
- At 45 Henry Ford introduces the automobile called the Model T.
- At 49 Julia Childs wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
- At 65 Colonel Sanders founds Kentucky Fried Chicken. (Now I want chicken lol)
- At 71 Coco Chanel debuts the designer Chanel suit.
It does not matter your age, we all have different paths to follow. We are all different and unique.
I was so blessed to spend my 30th birthday with my family. It was low key and relaxing, just what I needed. Plus I found out that my brother and law does not know the difference between a orchestra and a ostrich. (We were playing Taboo, and he started describing a orchestra, when the card said ostrich)
I am so thankfully and happy to be 30, and I am excited to see where God takes me this next year. I can feel that it will be a year of change and blessing.
This is how Angelina and I look at each other most of the time!