The Thirty Chapter

This Leslie.

I am lucky enough to be the sister- in -law. Let me tell you what I know about her. She is one of the smartest people I know. She works furiously for the things she wants, and will work furiously over the things you might want. Her opinion ALWAYS carries weight, and one should consider what she has said to heart. She is the best Aunt to a lot of kiddo's and she spoils each one of them differently. I find her to be fascinating when she talks politics. She knows her stuff folks, and will encourage you to form your own opinions. The reason she fit into my project so well was because she has been thirty for a minuet. Hence the "Thirty Chapter" title. So she has experience and if I remember right when it was her turn to enter in this stage in life, well she was like most of us and said, NOT Cool! From the beginning of this project she kept telling me how 30 was her best year. So after some serious coxing, I got her to take some shots for me. So without further a dew, here is Leslie in her own words.....

No Apologies

My thirtieth birthday has been the best adult birthday to date. I thought I might ignore it and let it pass unnoticed. Instead, I decided to embrace it; and so it has been ever since. The best way to describe my thirties is: “No Apologies”. I choose to live my life without guilt, apologies, or long-term plans. If I’ve learned one thing, it is that no matter how extensive our plans are, they will change. As we allow them to change and embrace what happens next the experience is far more rich and rewarding. The excitement of the unknown and wonderment of what might be around the bend is invigorating.

I traveled the world in my twenties, became an adult, and started a career. I transitioned into the decade of my thirties with a second career, a second home, and the opening of a second chapter. I’m somewhere in the midst of that “second chapter” and I don’t have any idea how the story ends but can’t wait to see what happens and I look forward to the “third chapter”.

Life is long; it is very, very long. I am now old enough to have perspective- which is weird- I can now reference events and friends “from twenty years ago”. I have opinions that I am not ashamed of- and still think that others care to hear them, but I know they probably don’t. I still have hope and optimism for the future- despite all of the reasons in this world and society to give up hope. I am a couponer- I get excited when I can buy three tubes of toothpaste for a dollar- and I am grateful for my newfound food storage. The Golden Rule reigns supreme and taking time to smell the roses and appreciate God’s gifts to us through small and simple things is what makes life full and worthwhile.

President Hinckley once said, “Life is like an old time rail journey… delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas, and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” I thank Him every day.

Single!

This is the oh so beautiful Paige. She is 30 and single and ROCKING it. The reason I asked Paige to do this was because not every one of us is in the same, "married with a few kids" boat. In fact I am finding that there are a lot of women out there who are still enjoying lives and careers without the small family attached.

In my job I spend a lot of time with women in their twenties. Lets face I am a wedding photographer in Utah. We get married quiet young around here. This past year however I have had the opportunity to photograph weddings of women who are stepping out of that category. Two of the best weddings I have ever attended where these women. What I have found about them is they really know what they want. There is no second guessing their decisions. I guess that comes with experience.

The perspective I take from being 30 and single is more appealing than the alternative. I find you have had the chance to really settle into a career. The opportunity to travel is more available to you. You really know what it is you want, and the things you really like. You really find a sense of self. Your friends are ones that you will keep forever. Most of this applies to just the general age, but knowing all of this stuff before I was thirty sure would helped me out in the marriage and kid department. Don't get me wrong I love where I am, and wouldn't change what I have learned. I still have the desire to travel and really push my career, but being a wife and mother can limit you on the things you want to do. So my turn will come, and I can take even more life experience with it.

So here is to being single and 30 all at the same time. And to the darling Paige, who if you ask me is quite the catch. Check these pictures out. Is she not just beautiful?

While I haven’t been looking forward to turning 30 for a long time, I must say it hasn’t been too bad. However, I do cringe a little bit when someone asks my age and I have to respond, “I’m 30!” Have I really been living for three decades?!? Now that does sound a little wild!

I think maybe what made me so nervous about turning 30 was all the bad things I had heard about it. Things like, “It all goes down hill from 30!” or, “That is when all those wrinkles start to appear and never go away!” But I figure all of those things have to happen at some point in life anyway, so why not just bring it on!

And of course there is the fact that I am 30 and still single. When I asked Sarah what she wanted me to write about she said, “Why being single rocks!” I smile every time I read this, because it is great, and I love where I am at in my life! I love being able to fill the free time with whatever sounds best. I love being able to have the time to pick up something new and pursue it or for doing the things that I love to do. I think of all of the things I have experienced in my life, and I know that I have been very richly blessed. I have been able to gain a great education, travel to many beautiful areas of the world, and be a daughter to two of the most amazing, loving, and giving parents. And there are still many incredible opportunities awaiting me!

And while I go on about how great it is to be single, don’t get me wrong, of course there are dreams I still want to come true, but I know they will! So, I’ve decided to look at this time of being 30 as a good one…take the life experience I have gained and keep enjoying the single season! I can make life as blissful as I want it to be, no matter what age I am. So, embrace it, love it, and bring it on!