*I seriously contemplated skipping this 30 things post. The first 5 things that popped into my head were chocolate croissants, binge watching on Netflix, napping, finding bargains on Craigslist, and rainy days. Don't worry, I eventually dug a little deeper.
1. Healthy Living
I wasn't always passionate about leading a healthy lifestyle. As a child growing up in the time of Lunchables and Pop-Tarts, weeks would go by before anything green came inches from my mouth. My school lunch consisted of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread, Doritos, a banana, and an oatmeal cream pie. I threw the banana away. But, the older I became, the more I realized that I'm not going to live forever, but I can take steps to make sure I'm around as long as possible. I began exercising and changing my eating habits, and I quickly realized that a healthier lifestyle had its benefits. I felt more energetic and confident and I was sick less often. I slowly phased out processed foods and began eating a diet composed mostly of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I was a psuedo- vegetarian for four years before I became pregnant with you, but it was difficult to get all of the necessary protein I needed during pregnancy, so now I eat organic meat a few times a week. I've done a lot of research regarding preservatives and food additives and the negative impact they have on our health, so I'm going to go ahead and apologize now for the lack of junk food in our fridge and pantry, but I promise you will thank me one day. There was a time when I was a bit too obsessed with being healthy, but I've since learned that moderation is key. I no longer care as much about counting calories as I do about consuming "real" food. So, I still see lots of cookie-making in our future...as long as they're from scratch.
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| Hiking with friends in New Hampshire. |
2. Family
It's true that you don't always know what you have until it's gone, and I didn't realize how important family is until we moved to Denver and you were born. It's hard being so far away, especially during the holidays. I never realized how lucky I was to be able to drop in at Gammy's house whenever I wanted during college. She would send me home with groceries and clean laundry, and I'm ashamed to say I took this for granted. Now there are days when I would give anything to have a home-cooked meal and a babysitter I know I can trust right around the corner. When we moved to New Hampshire, we were only a few hours away from your Poppy and your Mom-Mom, but we didn't make the drive to see them as often as we should have, and now we're a four-hour plane ride away. Now that you're here, I understand the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child"....I just wish we didn't live so far from the village. It's easy to take family for granted. They have to love you, no matter what. The important thing is to realize how lucky you are to have them before it's too late. It is my hope that eventually we will live close to family and you will grow up around lots of aunts and cousins and grandparents. Until then, thank God for Facetime.
3. Travel
Before you were born, your dad and I traveled to lots of places, including Romania, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Austria. We had a lot of fun and had the privilege of experiencing many other cultures. I learned a lot about myself during our trips abroad, and I hope that we are fortunate enough to continue traveling now that we have you. I want you to realize that there is more to this world than Highlands Ranch, CO. Traveling abroad helped me realize that different doesn't necessarily mean better or worse. It encouraged me to be grateful for what I have and to strive for more. It broadened my horizons and helped me view the world from a different perspective. Traveling has made me a better person. There are so many beautiful places in this world, and I can't wait to experience them with you.
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| In Molveno, Italy. One of my favorite places. |
4. Simplicity (The best things in life are free.)
This is a new one for me, and one I often struggle with. I've noticed that many people are so busy with work and other obligations that they hardly have any time to simply enjoy life. I don't want to fall into this trap...even if that means having less, because I'm beginning to realize that sometimes less is more. We have everything we need and more, and rather than focus on things, I'd rather focus on providing you with meaningful and lasting experiences. Your dad and I made the choice to live on one salary so that I could stay home and raise you, so I guess you could say this "passion" stems from necessity. We've have to be more careful with our money and watch our spending habits, but it's been worth it. I wouldn't trade these past 9 months with you for anything. Even though we have less money, our lives feel more full. Our society is one based on consumerism, and it's easy to become caught up in the materialistic trap, but it's your character that defines who you are, not what's hanging in your closet. Don't get me wrong, I see no problem in owning an expensive purse or designer jeans. We all like nice things, but I hope to raise you to find joy and happiness in serving others and in being a good person. I want your self-worth to come from who you are, not what you have. Simplicity doesn't mean saying "no" to everything or avoiding spending money at all costs, it's simply a reminder to enjoy the little things and focus on life's simple pleasures.
5. Learning and Discovering New Passions
I wish I could go back to my college days for many reasons...sleeping until noon, flip-cup tournaments, and One Tree Hill marathons, just to name a few. But I also miss the learning and research and the seemingly endless amount of papers I had to write. I miss feeling challenged. I enjoyed going to class, and I was eager to learn as much as I could about child development and teaching before graduating. I consider myself a life long learner, and I love discovering new interests and passions. As strange as it sounds, I'm passionate about having a passion. Everyone needs something that drives them and promotes growth and change. I pray that you will discover many passions in your lifetime...and I have a feeling that I will develop a passion for supporting and encouraging you during your own journey of self-discovery.
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