From This Side of Thirty: Happy Bloggiversary!

Since you’ve last heard from me I’ve had an anniversary, a birthday and a long weekend getaway to celebrate. So…first things first. Ole Jus and I made it 11 years!!! If you would have asked me on that special day 11 years ago if we would stand the test of time, my answer would be a very naïve, “You betcha!” If you asked the same question in say…the 7^th year…well I would have told you it would take a miracle. Thank heavens for the miracle!!! He looked at me last week and said, “I really like what we got goin’ on here.” Well, Ole Jus, ME TOO! It's taken 11 years of ups and downs to figure out who we are as half of the other. We know what buttons we shouldn’t push, and don’t push them for the most part. He knows I like to wash the sheets multiple times a week, so he sighs every time he heads for bed and the mattress is naked, but he helps me make it anyway. I know he will always have more dogs than I think we need, so I just make sure they stay far enough from the house for my sanity. We both know he should quit dipping snuff, but that may require another miracle, so I pick up a can in town every now and then so the kids and I don’t have to suffer the consequences of temporary withdrawal. And for the sake of adding a little TMI, we have figured out the key to making our sex life work. We’ll do it a little more than I want to, and a little less than he wants to. I am so completely in love with this man. God really knew what he was doing when he destined this man just for me, although I've questioned his divine intentions some days.

Using the app WordSwag I wrote and posted this picture on my Instagram and Facebook this weekend. Somehow, many people assumed I had found it and reposted it. (Like I'm not a writer or something) I assure you these are my words about my man.

Our marriage is incredible and thrilling and hilarious. Our love is ferocious and I agree, I really like what we got goin’ on Ole Jus.

The birthday followed the anniversary and it was all that the 31^st year of life should begin with. Ole Jus and I were joined by my brother, his wife and another oh-so-lovely couple, Billy and Katie on the Texas coast for a few days. The six of us played games, laughed laughs, drank drinks and ate food. It was all a little old lady could ask for. I came into my 31^st year $100 richer, adorned with some awesome new jewelry and tickets to see Alan Jackson with my kids. I'd call that a success.

And finally, there is another very special birthday that has come and gone within the last week. My 31^st birthday marked the 1^st birthday of this blog. You can read my inaugural post from one year ago here.

I would have never dreamed that my words would venture into the world like they have in one short year. I am eternally grateful for each set of eyes that ends up here. I am blessed (and a little shocked) to know that what I have to say can encourage people and make them laugh. That’s all I could ever ask for. So I want to say a very personal and sincere, “Thank YOU!” to every single reader for making this absolutely breathtaking for me. I love you people for it…FROM THIS SIDE OF THIRTY.