So today is the day.

Childhood, high school, early 20’s, late 20’s… and now 30. I’ve long divided up my life into sections of events - events revolving around times or ages. I guess most of us probably do this.

When we’re young, we may look out and think that at 25 we’ll be married, have kids, a house with a yard… and then 25 comes and goes with the feeling that all those dreams feel even farther away than they did when we were younger.

As I reflected on the sections of my life last night, I realized that now is the perfect time for everything that’s happening to me to be happening. I’ll be married this year and starting a family, I’ll have a house next spring… Mandi and I both have good jobs that allow us to live well and save at the same time.

I’m thankful things took as “long” as they did. Upon reflexion, is was the exact right amount of time.

What I Did Last Night

Mandi has had a surprise trip for me planned for weeks. I wasn’t going to know what it was until we got there. The wait was long and brutal at times, and I think she was just as nervous… worrying about if I would like it not.

The drive took us about an hour and a half from Madison to a small town past Delavan called Fontana. There, along a narrow dark road was a lit path to a small log cabin just for us. A balloon bouquet, fireplace, hot tub, and a picnic dinner was waiting for us. No TV or phone… just the crackle of fire and us. We ate, talked, and laughed for hours. It went by so fast, but at the same time it felt like it lasted a lifetime. It really was the perfect place for me to be on my birthday. She knows me so well…

Part of the fun is a “game” that people play who have stayed in the cabin in the past. Most residents will leave clues to where a dollar is that they hide, and then try to find others - marking them with the name of the couple. It was fun… we found a lot and Mandi came up with the perfect riddle to where ours would be hidden. There was also a journal that everyone writes in about their time there - and where the clues are left for the dollar-hunt.

I had a great start to my next decade. I can only hope I can give her an equally invigorating experience for her 30th!