Quarter of a Century

So, I turned 25 today.

25.

Two.

Five.

That's old.

I'm 5 years away from 30.

25 years away from 50.

Actually, I love the number 25. It's a square. It's composite. I like the number 5. It's just a good number and I'm feeling a really good year to follow.

For lack of a better post, I'm going to tell you all 25 things I've learned in my 25 years. Here we go.

1. Be true to yourself. Never let anyone tell you who you need to be. Be the best you that you can be.
2. Try something you've never done before. I rock climbed at Kanakuk. I hated it, but I sure did it by golly!
3. Don't sweat the small stuff. You'll exhaust yourself if you do.
4. Pick your battles. I've learned a lot about that in the past few years.
5. I've learned to never miss an opportunity to tell someone that you love them. You never know when that'll be the last thing you say.
6. The Wizard of Oz is still my most favorite movie...and should be your's too.
7. I've learned to stand up for myself and not be a doormat.
8. I'm still learning to put God first, Other's second and myself third.
9. Intentional conversation is amazingly important and life changing. I learned this living in the Chi O house.
10. Be accepting of everyone and never discriminate.
11. If told a secret, keep it. If you must tell someone, tell a pet.
12. What's popular is not always right. What's right is not always popular. That was a tough one in the teenage years.
13. Wake up every morning praising God for giving you another breath. I take that for granted so often, when life is one of the "small" things for which I need to praise Jesus.
14. Write a letter and put it in the mail to a friend or family member. Nothing is better than hand-written mail.
15. Putting away your phone with you're with someone else makes that person feel important. This is actually a message to all of you readers if you're around me. Put your phone away when you're around me! I want to hang out with you; not your iPhone.
16. I've learned to treat my body as a temple and to take care of it as best as I can.
17. I've learned to put my husband's needs way before mine and to love and serve him like a Proverbs 31 woman.
18. Be a person of integrity, acting as if you're always being watched. Oh wait. You are. :)
19. Every job your perform is a picture of you. Sign your work with excellence.
20. Try your very hardest to omit gossip from your lips. It is ugly and hurtful. I have to work at this on a daily basis.
21. Get to know the community in your church. I've met some unbelievably lovely people through the church.
22. Welcome people into your home.
23. Cook for others.
24. Do a random act of kindness. Those are the best.
25. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31.

I love you all and appreciate all you readers so much! Thank you for your love, encouragement, kind words and prayers over the years. Here's to 25 more fabulous years! I love you guys!