KIMBIRTHDEY (the big 3-0)

For the record, Let me just say that I'm happy about being 30. People keep saying to me:

"Oh, that's a BIG one!"
"Oh boy, you're SO old."
"Ugh are you depressed?"
Or other like statements to jab me or to commiserate with me.

But in any case, let me say again: I'm excited about my 30's.

Why?
Well...glad you asked:
1-Saying that I'm 30 makes me feel like a legitimate adult (something that my maturity level has never let me feel)
2-If I'm ever going to have kids...it's going to have to be in my 30's
3-I imagine that if I ever have any type of career it will also be in my 30's
4-And most importantly, if I say I want to go to bed at 9:00 p.m. I feel like that's fine. I'm no longer a 20 year-old trying to pass for a teenager. I'm a mature woman and I'm looking forward to MORE SLEEP (oh, unless that whole baby or career thing works out for me).

So take that 20's. I'm so over you. Literally, because
I'm 30

What is also awesome about turning a year older (specifically this year) is that I have a sweet husband who did everything, besides turning back the clocks, to try and ease me through this transition. He did what he does best: Made the whole weekend a celebration.

FRIDAY:
When I came home from work on Friday, Ryan had brightened up our apartment by putting roses all over the apartment and also helping our little white trees to bud.He also physically brightened it by making this sign for me
SATURDAY
On Saturday, we followed what is now our favorite birthday tradition (see here and here). We spent the whole day trying to accomplish 30 acts of service.

The 30 Acts:
1-Passed out 30 roses2-Filled phone booths with change
3-Left 30 random notes around the city
4-Picked up 30 pieces of garbage
5-Talked to an old man, named Herb, that I happened to serve last year.
Last year he was feeding the birds by the cathedral so we thought it was pretty exciting to run into him again. 6-Gave bread to a homeless man
7-Gave directions to tourists
8-Hid 30 Easter Eggs in various locations around the city9-Handed out 30 balloons to 30 kids10-Took treats to the Saturday temple workers
11-Helped some tourists take pictures together in the park
12-Doubled a couples odds at the Wicked lottery
13-Carried strollers down the subway stairs
14-Handed out candy on the subway
15-Lifted luggage up the subway stairs
16-Gave out free subway swipes
17-Bought someone popcorn at the movies
18-Brought hot chocolate to a street vendor that seemed really cold (it was FREEZING outside that night)
19-Gave directions to a group of teenagers who were lost in the city
20-Took a man named Rowland to get a Grey's Papaya
21-Bought chicken McNuggets for a man who called himself 007
22-Called Ryan's Grandma (who just got out of surgery)
23-Bought a lamb & rice dinner for a beggar named Calvin
24-Gave directions to Tourists
25-Gave out 30 dollar bills to different musicians and beggars around the city
26-Took a man, named Hutch, to dinner
27-Lifted a super heavy stroller down the stairs
28-Said "Hi" to 30 people
29-Donated money to "This American Life"
30-Donated money to "New York Cares"

It was a really fun and tiring day. I realize that maybe none of these acts of service were that meaningful to anyone, balloons deflate, McDonald's meals are forgettable, but the whole day meant a lot to me and I feel so lucky to have spent it that way.

Each time we've done this day of service I feel too inadequate to sum it up. But since I'm putting it up here anyway, I just can't help but say a few things.

Most importantly the reason it's such a good day is because it always reminds me that service can be SO small.
A smile.
Holding the door open for someone.
Being nice to a stranger.
Sometimes I forget that to affect the server and/or the served, it doesn't have to kill anyone.

Also, I believe that giving things on a larger scale (or better said, a more difficult scale) reaps huge rewards. When it hurts to give (again, not killing you...but maybe just pinching you), your joy will be immense.

I would assume that most people reading this are much nicer people that I am (because I think I know most of you) so I'll stop raving about things that you already know or already do. But if I can add anything else it's just that whether you serve often or not there are so many ways that we can and should serve and no matter what, you'll feel so much happier once you've given something more. Don't let yourself miss those opportunities.

Lastly, if you want any incentive to do something, here are two things I've been thinking about since Saturday:

This quote from CS Lewis
President Monson's talk from last October General Conference

SUNDAY
(My Birthday)
Sunday I woke up to Ryan bringing me breakfast in bed. It was Fast Sunday, so there wasn't much on my plate.
We went to church and I taught sharing time while Ryan taught singing time in primary. I had a meeting after church and when I finished, Ryan picked me up at the chapel in our friend's car and took me to Coney Island (one of my favorite places).

We came home and Ryan cooked me a Thai peanut stir fry dinner (so delicious). We ate and relaxed, but only for a few minutes because we had another Sunday drive to go on. We drove up to Westchester to pick up Ryan's birthday present to me (a bike. Yeah!!!)(How adorable is that? Huh? Wait until you see me on it. The 30's have never looked so cute.)

We came back to New York, went for a bike ride, and then came home and had some of the delicious mango pie that Ryan made for me earlier that morning while I was sleeping (is there anything he can't do?).Besides having a great husband to celebrate with, I have two sisters 2,000 miles away who were trying to help me feel their love by texting me all day (30 in total) with their favorite memories of me, sending me videos of the whole family singing happy birthday, and shipping an awesome birthday present full of 30 things that they love about me.

So, while I we ate pie, I opened all 30 of their little packages of love and talked to my family.It was a wonderful weekend.
See why I'm so happy about this 30 thing?