Thirty One-derful

This side of thirty isn't so bad. It's been one full year of 30 and it's been a good year. Who says things go downhill when you get older? Certainly not me. I feel (the key word here is feel) wiser and a bit older.... I won't lie.  Things aren't exactly where they used to be and there are some fine lines and little wrinkles starting to appear... quietly in the night they steal my youth away.  But with each little line there is a lesson learned.  I'm sure I could go on all day about lessons learned and fears conquered, but, I'm just not really in a listy mood, not to mention Ava is knocking and calling under her door "Mommyyyyyy whea aaaahhh youuuu???".  Sooooo I am going to steal some words from Mother Teresa, because she says perfectly, some of the things I have learned and some things I am in the process of learning, and some I just need an occasional reminder that lesson has been learned and to put it back into practice...

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.

Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway."

Couldn't have said it better myself.  I have a few resolutions with the new year, renew my thirst and hunger for the scriptures, flatten this little bulge of baby fat that's kept me warm all winter, not be so critical of myself... or others, yell less and whisper lovely things more, take some photography classes and just plain enjoy life a little more.  Focus less on getting it done and more on enjoying the journey.

And to begin my Thirty first year of life I decided to do another wanna be shoot with the kiddos.  I couldn't think of a better way to end this post other than with my favorite people in the whole wide world!!  So here they are, in no particular order, my favorites from this round...