Dirty Thirty!

Today is my birthday.  I can't believe I've been alive for 30 years.  As I officially enter my 30's, I want to be sure never to forget my 20's!

20 {2002-2003}

*dropped out of EMU

*moved back to Cincinnati

*started dating Jeremy

21 {2003-2004}

*celebrated my birthday at Blue Note with some of my very best friends

they obviously had some strong negative feelings towards Jeremy.  Things would be very different now if I had listened to them at the time!

*Jeremy deployed to Iraq for a year

*Took classes at UC and worked at a Chevy dealership

22 {2004-2005}

*Jeremy returned from his deployment and we broke up

*Joined Facebook {thank God for the timeline, it's making this recap MUCH easier!}

*Met Jason {through a mutual friend on FB}
*Introduced him to the fam-bam just weeks after meeting him in person

4th of July 2005 with my family

23 {2005-2006}

*Jason broke up with me ={ then deployed to Iraq for a year ={ ={

*Starting working at Delta

*Traveled A LOT.  The highlights were Vegas and Spain

my friend, Tim, and I in Spain

24 {2006-2007}

*Went to my 1st NHL game

At the Hurricanes game in Raleigh with my friend, Derek.

*Traveled all over the US with my best friend

Holly and I on a cruise in Nassau

*Jason returned and we started dating again
*Took a vacation to Puerto Rico with Jason

25 {2007-2008}

*Celebrated my birthday with friends in Columbus

celebrating my birthday

*MARRIED Jason!

exchanging vows at a ghetto "chapel" in Kentucky with my lover

*Moved to Ft. Bragg and met some life long friends

my first "Army Wife" friends

*Moved to Ft. Riley and then back to Cincinnati

such a good helper

*Jason deployed to Iraq for a year ={

we tried really hard to be happy that day

*Went to Vegas for a hockey tournament

in Vegas with some of my favorite people

*The Cyclones won their league championship

We partied like WE had won the cup!  This was the only night during Jason's year long deployment that I consumed any alcohol.

*Jason and I spent R&R in Europe

in Paris during our 2 week tour of Europe

*Visited my BFF in Alaska

26 {2008-2009}

*attended the NHL all star game
{1st anniversary present from my awesome husband!}

We met Gordie Howe at the airport in Montreal. 

*My grandpa lost his battle with cancer

love this man

*Jason returned from his deployment

photo from our awesome OpLove photographer Kim Kravitz

*We moved to FLW, bought a house and a new car

our awesome little family in front of our 1st home

*I lost my grandma and my best friend and inherited Buster

27 {2009-2010}

*lived in Missouri with some of the best friends we've ever known

some of our awesome friends on a trip to Branson

*Celebrated our WEDDING with friends and family

having fun before our wedding reception

*Started this blog

*Lived in Cincinnati while Jason was at Ranger school

*Visited him and his extended family in GA

*Volunteered in NOLA

*Said goodbye to my amazing family and MOVED TO JAPAN

28 {2010-2011}

*Celebrated our anniversary in Hawaii

Anniversary dinner at Chef Morimoto's restaurant

*3/11 Earthquake resulted in a free trip to the US

celebrating my grandmother's brother's 50th wedding anniversary while I was visiting the US

*Traveled to Taipei

at the zoo in Taipei

*Visited Australia

at the Koala park in Australia

*Volunteered in Tohoku

Digging a hole at the park in Ofunato.  Photo courtesy of my friend, Ari.

29 {2011-2012}

*My sister surprised me and came to visit me for my birthday

Dressed up as Geisha in Kyoto with my sister

*Hosted 35 Japanese ladies for Thanksgiving lunch with my friend, Melissa

some of the ladies, Melissa and I after our lunch

*Mom came to visit

Cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo with my momma!

*Ran the Warrior Dash

*Paid off debt
*Climbed Mt. Fuji

And those are just SOME of the highlights of my 20's.  I started off a little rocky but definitely got better as the years passed.  I'm so grateful for all the blessings I've received over the past 10 years.  Looking back through all these old photos made me giddy with love and happiness. Thank you to my amazing friends and family for being there with me through it all.  I cannot wait to see what the next decade has in store for me and I hope you'll all join me for the ride!