Happy Birthday ME!

This morning was an absolutely gorgeous spring morning in Logan. I woke up slowly to the sound of birds singing and warm sunshine streaming through the window and onto my bed. It was a glorious contrast to the early mornings I usually experience in the cold and dark before lessons begin.
28.
I like that number, it's fat and big, but not yet old. :)
By 28 the smell of Lavender will forever remind you of France. Logan holds a lifetime of memories: long drives with friends, 10,000 colors of leaves, long practice nights, sleeping in Vern's hay loft, loves, losses, hikes. New York is familiar and a part of your soul; you've learned to navigate through the subways without talking on your cell phone too loud, adjusting your weight as the trains start and stops, keeping up with the most efficient of locals.
By 28 you've got smile lines and know the feeling of your belly being heavy with child. You know the anguish and joy of a natural birth, and the indescribable feeling of holding your baby for the first time.
By 28 you know that most things are solved on your knees, but you're not old enough to always do it. You know the meaning of family and you know enough to not take them for granted. You're old enough to recognize that your life has been littered with mistakes and you're grateful for the people who have seen you through many changes, and still love you.
By 28 you recognize that love is not what you thought it would be, it's much much deeper.
28 is learning everything with your growing child for first time. It's story books and day trips, your first mother's day, and being excited all week to go to the Pediatricians for a well child check-up just to see how much she's grown.
You've learned you're stronger than you thought you ever could be, and weaker then you ever knew. You recognize that half the things you've said out loud were meant well, but mostly ridiculous. You understand the value of time, and recognize more than ever the people who give it freely. Life is full of meaning and lessons and instead of feeling like you're an A + student, often you feel like you're just hanging on.
By 28 you're starting to understand the other side of things: that chapter after school ends and life continues and suddenly you get what debt and savings are all about. By 28 you're paying a mortgage and mowing a lawn and putting up a baby swing in the front yard. Life is simple and complicated, fast and slow, all at once, everyday. Things are organized, laundry is done, dishes are cleaned, meals are made . . . but you still find yourself as a bit chaotic.
At 28 you are giddy about a new couch for the front room.
You care about gardens, but your plants die because you planted too soon. You're on that edge where you think you should have it pretty figured out by now, but there's never been a stronger feeling that you don't have a clue what you're doing.
Balance is everything, and you're sure that if you took up Yoga you'd be a better person, but you also know it won't happen this year, not at 28.
Instead you'll continue to run, to laugh, to melt when you're husband kisses your forehead. You'll keep giving it your best and know that life will offer lessons that are unexpected, and that's what makes them hard.
28 is is when life is luscious ~ new and old, all at once.