30, Glorious 30

I couldnt' go to bed on this special night without publishing this post.  I barely made it since it is now almost midnight . . .

So, why is my blog post entitled, "30, Glorious 30"?  Well, it isn't because I just turned 30, although I don't feel that much older.  And, of course, I don't look a day over 30, right?  : )

It's because today is the 30th anniversary of my baptism.  What a glorious day this is for me to remember and celebrate each year.  I was baptized at the age of 21 on November 1, 1980, in Vista, CA into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I've been reflecting excitedly about this special upcoming anniversary for the past few months.  And I went to October General Conference in Salt Lake City as a celebration and commemoration of my upcoming anniversary.  More about this in an upcoming post.

As a young woman of 21, I knew that the church was true and was eager to be baptized.  But even though I thought I was so old and mature at the time, I realize now that I was so very young in many ways.  Thankfully, I had the faith, courage and strength to make one of the most important and pivotal decisions of my life amidst some opposition.  I can't imagine my life these past 30 years without the gospel.

I will forever be grateful to Sharyn and Essie for being such great member missionaries and showing me the way to the waters of baptism.  They were very patient and taught me well. (I think I might have been a tad stubborn at first?).

Here's a picture Christopher took of me after church yesterday.  I"m wearing the outfit from Brittany and John's wedding six years ago that hasn't fit me until recently.  Yeah! It was the first Stake Conference I had attended in my new stake after moving to Riverside earlier this year.  I was honored yet a little trepidatious to have been asked to give the closing prayer but it went off without a hitch.   Silly that an old member of 30 years like me would get nervous, right?   : )

I don't want to duplicate memories I've already shared in this blog.  So if you would like more fun info on my baptism, please look back to my detailed blog posting from my 29th anniversary on 11/1/09 which contains lots of pictures, my baptism journal entry, baptism program, testimony and more. 

One more fun memory of my special day  . . .  After picking Christopher up from school and taking him to new his new job, I stopped at the beautiful nearby Riverwalk area that I love so much to relax and enjoy the magificent day. 

The weather was perfect.  It was warm with blue skies and a slight wind and simply glorious.  After sitting a few minutes with my faithful puppy Champ by my side and reading, I laid down on the gently sloping grass and basked in the glory of the warm sun on my face while listening to the wind rustling the poplar leaves. 

I often stop here for a few minutes during my walks to sit and watch the ducks and other birds.  But I've never allowed myself the decadent indulgence of driving here and just relaxing. 

Today was a wonderful time to pamper myself  in a peaceful place while contemplating my 30 year anniversary as a Latter-day Saint and the many blessings for which I am SO very thankful.

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Enjoying the beautiful world around me - flowers, trees, sunsets, clouds, the sky. We live in such a magnificient world replete with beauty everywhere we look. It's so important to try to take time to recognize and appreciate all these creations that truly make our lives more fragrant, beautiful and enjoyable.

Trees, glorious trees. I could devote a whole blog to this love of mine. I especially love learning the names of trees and watching them change during the different seasons. I always carry my camera and a special leaf collecting bag filled with supplies. I love to stop by the side of the road, or in a park, or anywhere I am, and photograph new trees from different angles, showing the bark, leaves and flowers (although my family doesn't love this passion nearly as much as I do!) Then I cut a few leaves, dry them in books and preserve the dried leaves in special notebooks I've created just for this purpose. It has taken me years of practice to figure out the best way to preserve the beautiful leaves and I'm still working on an even better method.

Reading a book that is so good I just can't put it down and can't wait to read it again. Only the best books earn the coveted term of "froggies" because they are the most riveting. This is the ultimate form of relaxation. I love sharing my love of reading with others.

Recording special moments with pictures. I love taking pictures and have taken pics for my family and friends for over 30 years. Nothing is as special as looking back on moments that could've been forgotten but yet are treasured and cherished for years.

Being greeted by my cockatiel, Sweetie Bird, with a song when he hears the garage door open as I'm coming home. Cuddling with him, watching him take a bath and watching him fly around the house is great. He is a very tame and sweet bird (hence the name!).

Traveling is the best. When Chris and I first got married, we were able to travel extensively. These are special memories. We've also lived in many states along the way. I'm so thankful I have lots of pictures to remember special places that I'm sure would be long gone from the memory banks 25 years later!

My kids, grandkids & family. What could be more special? I am truly blessed. These joys will be covered extensively in the blogs to come.

My sweet puppy, Champion. While I've had many dogs in my life, none has been as cherished as this Shih-Tzu who loves me unconditionally, is sad when I leave and always excited when I return, who waits for me in the car by looking out the window or with his paws on the dashboard and who follows me from room to room. He has truly sweetened my life and is my Champ.

I could go on and on . . . And will do so in the future in this blog.