now say it without flinching...

I had a birthday last week. The big three-oh.

I thought I'd turn thirty with grace and poise (although I'm not sure why--I don't possess either of those qualities on even my very best days). Yes, I thought turning 30 would be easy, because I had a bit of a hard time turning 29 last year.

But the joke was on me, it seemed.

I was sitting in a church meeting on Sunday, April 22, when it hit me: I had exactly one month left of my twenties--which seemed synonymous with "the days of my youth," really.

It really was a hard month for this Ginabean! The days between April 22 through the evening of May 21, things kind of went wayward and awry and...all around not nice. And it didn't all have to do with my youth quickly scampering away; those 30 days threw some major curve balls in my direction, and it caused extra turmoil.

The greatest annoyance, of course, was that I was annoyed about a silly number to begin with! "IT'S JUST A NUMBER!" I kept chanting to myself. "You're only as old as you feel!"

Well. This could go on for a while, it seems, and I'm sure you all get my point.

May 22 arrived (with ferocious velocity), and I went about my business just like any other Tuesday.

Except I got lots of phone calls.

And lots of texts.

And people were extra nice to me.

And a handful of people said to me (on my birthday, as well as those difficult days leading up to it) that THIRTY IS THE NEW TWENTY. At first I scoffed and rolled my eyes, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it, and it makes sense (in my old, senile brain ;) so I think I'll go with it.

I had to work from 8:00am until 5:45pm. Oh yes, and on that day, I was getting a new car radio/cd player/clock installed in my car. (No, it wasn't a birthday present to myself, but rather, Handsome Rob's original quit working the week before.) Since my car was with my car guy (Larry is his name), I got a rental.

If I wasn't feeling old when I woke up that morning, driving around that silly rental did the trick...

It truly was boat-sized. Felt like I skipped 30 and jumped straight to 70.

Anyway...I met Brooker for lunch at Jimmy Johns, were my boss Matt was having lunch with his wife and daughter...and when he saw me there, he insisted on paying for our lunches as well. (What a swell guy, eh?!)

That evening, a (very) few people went to Jami's house for cake, and it was delicious! (I love salted caramel hot chocolate, so when Jami came across a recipe for salted caramel chocolate cake while we were in California in February, she stole the recipe right out of the magazine. Then she made it for me on my big day. Isn't she a thoughtful friend?!)

The most excellent cake, wearing 30 candles.

Lighting the candles...

Yes. I am well aware that my cake became a fire hazard...

After eating the cake, we sat and visited for a while, and then my good friend Cameron sang me a song, special for my birthday!

The story goes like this: back in September (of last year), I was up in Yellowstone with Cameron (and a couple of gals); while driving through the park, we listened to some tunes on Cameron's mp3 player. One of those songs was "Hear You Me" by Jimmy Eat World. Apparently I told Cameron exactly how much I love that song, although I don't recall that conversation. (It seems legit, though, as I do love that song.) The story continues that he found the music and learned the song, then he played it at this big Halloween party. A party that I didn't actually attend. Aaaand since he supposedly learned the song for me, he held onto to it for something like 7 months, and he played (and sang) that song for me on my birthday.

Yes, my friends. I was serenaded on my 30th. (You better believe that I mentioned it on my status update on Facebook. Within moments of the final strains of the song, even!) THANKS, Cameron!

Sing to me, Cam.

Yep, This made me smile.

*Technically, "Hear You Me" is kind of a sad song--written for a dead friend--but it's still sweet, and I will always love that song.

Anyway...I've been thirty for 9 whole days now, and I can even say it without flinching. Watch this: "I'M THIRTY!"

Aaaand since I've been thirty for a while now (heh heh), I've had time to think about the whole issue of why I was dreading my birthday. I've come to the conclusion that I wasn't bummed out at turning thirty so much as I was really sad to be leaving my twenties (there is a difference). But so far, thirty feels like 29, which felt an awful lot like 24, if you must know. 

So. Yeah. I can say it without shuddering. I'm OWNING thirty, and I have a feeling that wonderful things are directly ahead of me in this new decade.

*If you have made it all the way through this post, bless your little heart. Thanks for sticking to it, and sticking with me!

Moab Happened

I am determined to post about my most recent Moab trip.

I've been putting it off, because it wasn't what I had hoped (and really wanted) it to be. In fact, it wasn't even that great for me. It was great for everybody else, though, and that's got to count for something.

Our trip started (ridiculously) early; Brooke and I woke up at 2:40(ish) in the morning, so we could shower and get ready, throw our stuff in my trunk, and meet the rest of the crew at Brandi's so we could leave by 3:30. (3:30AM, guys. That is significant! And gross!) Turns out, one member of our crew was a bit late in getting to Brandi's, so we didn't leave until 4:00. (This was annoying, but only because I was on time and ready to roll by 3:30.)

Wow. At the rate I'm going, this post might last for pages. Let me sum up...

Thursday: we checked into the house we rented for the weekend, and some of us took naps while the rest of us (them) got groceries, etc. Then we split into two groups: one for biking, one for rock climbing. I was in the climbing group.

Lyndsey and Vinay set up...

...while we relaxed and watched.

Then Rosie scampered up...

...while NaeDene climbed the other side.

I would be lying if I didn't tell you I was the loudest climber that evening.
I think this was the part of the climb where I said,
"Swearing! Swearing!"
(Please note: I actually said the word "swearing."
And maybe only once did I say an actual swear word that anyone could hear.)

Here we have Keri, basically flying up the rock. Bare foot, even.

 It was both Rose and Keri's first time climbing, and they were both stellar! I have been a couple of times several years ago, and it is every bit as terrifying as I remember. (I'm afraid of heights, you see.)

How lovely is this? I want to say it's the Colorado River...?

After climbing and packing up the gear, we headed back to our cars, where Handsome Rob stubbornly refused to start. (Really, Handsome Rob?! I am trying to allow Moab to redeem itself, and you go and pull something like this?!) Anyway...this started the downward spiral for my Moab trip...but it must be said: my friends are very helpful and fantastic. We got Handsome Rob towed into town (although, during this ordeal, I took away the title "Handsome" and just called him "Rob"), and even got a bit of a police escort once we were within the city limits. Then we headed back home (all six of us squished into Rose's car) and had a late (but delicious) dinner of grilled hamburgers, while we chatted with our biking friends about their ride (which ended up being fun and uneventful. Good for them!).

It was a really good thing that Vinay was there.
(I. Hate. Car stress.)

Our police escort. And you better believe he had a mustache.

 Friday: I had O'Reilly Auto Parts troubleshoot "Rob" to see what was the matter. (It was the cam shaft censor, and they were able to order the part in by Saturday morning.)

Most of the boys went on a ridiculously long and arduous bike ride. The girls (and a few of the fellas) biked the Circle O trail. (I'm not going into detail, but I didn't love this part of the trip, and it's very likely because I just don't care for mountain biking. At all.) I did have a lovely time with Rose, though. We stopped to breathe on a number of occasions, and I just think the world of that lady...

I know it says "end" but we really took this picture at the beginning of our ride.

 Hmm. Now I'm thinking that maybe we had burgers on Friday night, not Thursday. Hmm. Doesn't matter. We had another lovely meal while we chatted, then a handful of us hiked to the Delicate Arch that night.

I had only ever been to the Delicate Arch once before, and it was in the late morning. I really liked the contrast, I must say. (Pictures c/o Tyler. Or, as I like to call him, "Ryan's brother." That's funnier than you understand.)

The Delicate Arch in all her glory...

Night shift...

Yes.

Saturday: Breakfast, a hurried packing of lunch, and heading out to Corona Arch (where a number of my friends defied death and jumped off it on a homemade rope swing--which became an integral part of our trip because of this video.)

The thought of jumping off Corona Arch (or any arch, I'm not prejudiced), puts me in a dark place and makes me want to curse. (Remember how I'm afraid of heights?) But? A number of my friends don't think in terms of fear, but rather in terms of adrenaline. Those are the friends who jumped.

The crew:
Ryan, Rose, Brandi, Jon, Lyndsey, Jason, Brooke, Vinay, Nate, NaeDene,
me, Keri, Tina, Tyler
(Where the heck is Amber? I know Jeff was up top, waiting to swing)

There was another group up there doing the same thing, so I think we (they) combined forces (and gear) and took turns on the swing. It ended up taking, like, all day long. After watching only a few jumps (including Nate and Jeff), Ryan, Rose, Tina and I left. (Tina was getting a ride back to P-town for work the next day, and I had to pick up my cam shaft censor from O'Reilly.) Although I missed seeing the rest of my friends make that horrific jump, I enjoyed a nice warm shower, a nice little nap, and some reading time.

We met up with the rest of the crew that evening at a place called, I think, The Blu Pig, for dinner.

Then we headed back to the house (with Handsome Rob, who decided to start, but I was unsure how well he'd handle the entire drive back to Idaho without some sort of intervention), where Nate and Robby replaced the censor, and we called it a night.

Sunday: We packed up, went to Sacrament Meeting (at a local church), and headed on home.

No issues from Handsome Rob (other than the A/C working horrifically--which has since been fixed).

I came to a decision, while in Moab. I don't hate Moab. Moab hates me. We'll see if time and space can make me want to return? (There were a few other dumb things that happened to taint my opinion of that place.)

last time i went home...

I went to visit my family in Utah a couple of weekends ago, and it was kind of fantastic. I just adore my family, and they make me feel so loved.

I left for Brigham City on, I think, May 3, and that morning, Vance called me. When I picked my my cell before work that morning, I heard Janie's voice say, "No Idaho for Gina!" I guess she had been talking about me a lot the week preceding my visit, and she woke up and I was the second person she asked for (after her mother. How does that make me feel? Pretty fantastic, is what!).

When I got home that evening, I went for a walk to check out the progress on the Temple in B-to-the-righam with Brent, Abby and Jane. As we approached the Temple, Janie exclaimed (as she perched on my shoulders), "Gina needs to get married!" I laughed so hard. And I totally agree with my sweet little (not-yet-three-year-old) niece. What a little darling she is, right?

On Friday, I hung out with Vance, Jane, and Brent while everybody else was at work. That evening, Mom and Dad went to L-town to babysit Aaron and Amy's boys while they went on a date; Vance, Abby, Jane and I met up with them at what we call The Duck Park, and Goose and his cute family joined us there as well. Which means I got to see all of my nieces and nephews, which makes for a pretty fantastic weekend...

And then...etc., etc., I had a nice, long weekend with my family.

It was so lovely.

And now: PICTURES!

right after her "gina needs to get married" comment :)

jane giving a rare cuddle to uncle brent

i made some delish brown sugar crackle cookies while chilling with vance, jane, and brent

at breakfast, jane tried a bite of lime, and this was her sour face.
vance and i laughed good and hard at this picture.
what makes this story even better is that she went back for another bite of lime!

my sweet kaylee j at the duck park

kayleebug enjoying her swing

totally bummed that i cut off the top of his head in this picture...
but will you get a load of that cute, smiley face of my emmett?!
I LOVE HIM!

seth was kind enough to stop the feeding of the ducks for a quick photo op for his aunt gina

marshall also obliged me with a handsome smile

best buds (but don't they look dodgy in this picture? heh heh)

oh, emmett...

me and kaylee saying goodbye after dinner at rumbi.
her goodbye kiss tasted of teriyaki. and dirt.

I'm totally bummed I didn't get a picture of my handsome mister Jackson; he was busy spinning like a madman on the merry-go-round at The Duck Park. It totally made me dizzy just watching all the sensory-seeking kiddos spin to their hearts' content. Oy...

I'll try to post about Moab sooner than later...

picture dump

It's already May 8th (almost the 9th!), and I have yet to post on here. I do not love it when I ignore my blog for more than a week...

Alas...

Life is busy.

And I've been feeling kind of down lately, so that's another (really good!) reason not to post.-But it hasn't been so bad that I've forgotten all my blessings. (I just sometimes need to remember to focus on the thousands of blessings that I do have and not give too much thought to the blessings I seem to be missing out on. Those are words of wisdom, people. My mama is one smart lady.)

I went home last weekend, and I took a handful of really cute pictures of my nieces and nephews (I got to see all of them!)...but that post will come later.

In the meantime, here's my life as seen through my Instagram photo-a-day challenge:

"flower"
this is a flowering crabapple tree. isn't it lovely?

 

"orange"
orange skittles are the second best flavor, did you know?

"bottle"
i love camelbak

"black and white"
*wink!*

"circle"
i love my stackable rings...

"looking down"
hovering above my bookshelf at work

"vegetables"
all sorts of fresh, sauteed veggies with quinoa and beans. delish!

"skyline"
ahhhh, isn't idaho lovely? so happy we've had such a decent spring!

"something i wore"
hello, hip-shot...

"a smell i adore"
gap om. i get depressed when i think about how this scent is discontinued...

You're welcome, I suppose, for giving you something to look at, especially as I disappear from civilization for a few days. (I'm totally heading to Moab Thursday through Saturday! I'm excited, if not a bit apprehensive, for the biking...)

Over and out (for now).