It’s my birthday… My 30th birthday.

***Note 1: I am still currently in Ireland but wanted to write this post to go live on my Birthday because I feel like this year of blogging would not be complete without it.
 

*** Note 2: As of this blog post I have not written two of the official posts – #17 and #26 – because they are full-year tasks.  Now that it’s been a year, I will get to writing them… when I get home from Ireland.  I’m too busy drinking Guinness to write them now.
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Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday to you… Happy 30th Birthday Darcie… Happy Birthday to you!
 

First, I can NOT believe that it’s been a year since I started my little adventure.  29 has been good to me. VERY good to me. I feel like I should be writing some amazing blog post that blows all of the other 110 posts that I wrote this year (wow!!!) out of the water.  But truth is?  I’m just overwhelmed that I actually did it.  Don’t get me wrong… there was never a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t accomplish all 30 things on my list.  Remember?  I don’t like to fail.  But it’s still ridiculously satisfying to know that I had it in me.
 

On top of being successful, I had the opportunity to eat SEVERAL pieces of humble pie this year while I recognized how very, very blessed I am to even be ABLE to accomplish all of these things.  And believe me… that pie was delicious.
 

I can not thank everyone enough who shared in the experiences, whether directly (by building/shopping/sailing/running/dressing up/snowboarding) or indirectly (by every comment, word of encouragement and moments of support).  For all of that, I am truly grateful.
 

Now, I realize I sound like I just won an Oscar or a Nobel Peace Prize but honestly?  I feel like I have.  I don’t need fancy accolades to feel like I’ve truly accomplished something great in life.  And pushing myself to try new things (even things I’ve done before and don’t like very much) CERTAINLY qualifies as just that.
 

I regularly go back and read old blog posts (this has been the best diary that I’ve ever written) and one that strikes a chord with me every.time. is Dear Baby Darcie, a post I thought about making my official birthday post but am so glad that I it wrote back in June as a constant reminder for the rest of my 20′s.  I only hope that one day, I’ll be able to write a post titled “Dear 30 Year Old Darcie” and that I’ll have so much more wisdom to impart on “young” me.  Recently, an old friend of mine wrote a comment on that post that not only brightened my day life, it reminded me that childhood can certainly last forever.
 

Amazing! You are truly a gem Darcie. We had so much fun when we were younger!

Just to add a little piece to baby Darcie!

You will be the greatest asset to your friends whether they are current or past. You will leave a permanent imprint on their hearts and fond memories in their mind. You will teach them things they never knew how to do and show them that they can indeed accomplish anything. You will make them smile and laugh uncontrollably. Not everyone has the natural gift to be in the spotlight (a lamp) and do stand up comedy and be completely comfortable, even if it was during a sleepover (Night at the Improv)! You will inspire many and many will envy you, but you will never let that change who you are. You will be brave, beautiful, balanced, and brilliant. Always remember where you came from and never forget that for those lives that you have inspired and touched, will always be there to help you in times of need!

 

Wow.  Beth, I can not thank you enough for your kind words… and a friendship that was such an integral part of my childhood.

 

Interestingly, the most rewarding thing I did this year wasn’t even something that was initially on the list – although I did substitute it in the long run.  I am so grateful for a wonderful friend/rescue partner who supported us along the way, an amazing husband who surprises me each and every day and two big, loveable mushes who have shared their beds, toys and mama with four foster dogs this year.  And remember how I said that I don’t like to fail?  Well… I guess it’s ok to fail SOMETIMES.  Evie, my little foster-failure of 2011 (Brody being the foster-failure of 2007), was a part of our family from the moment she showed up in the van, covered in poo but smothered in love (ironically, I just found the post that I wrote when we pulled her from the shelter and I had titled it Alright… One More Time… apparently I was right).  I am so grateful that I took a leap of faith back in March and opened our home on a whim to our first foster in a long time… my heart grew exponentially this year and I have each of those amazing pups (Diamond/Macy, Fernando, Jersey and Evie) to thank for that.
 

Yeah… my heart may have even grown three sizes.

 

Several people have asked me to keep writing after my birthday because they’ve enjoyed my antics and, I promise, I will continue to write as long as I have something non-coma inducing half-way decent to say.  Who knows, maybe I’ll even make a 40 Before 40 List… at least I’ve got 10 years to work on it!
 

Until then… thank you so much for reading along and being a part of my crazy life. 
 

My crazy, blessed, amazing life…
 
 

This is the way I have started my birthday for as many years as I can remember… enjoy.

 
 

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun.  Enjoy the trip.  ~Author Unknown