Stick to the Plan

I'm a definite planner.  Always have been.  As a teen, I loved the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?"  I had a plan for that.  I could rattle off almost a year-by-year timeline of what I had planned.  Job interviewers, they love the question, "where do you see yourself in five years?"  No sweat, I had a great answer for that.

Look at me, so proud of myself and my plans.  A problem arises?  No big deal, here's a step-by-step plan for how to fix it.

I'm almost convinced that God/karma/whatever-your-persuasion likes to laugh at me when I make plans.  I think life just loves the challenge of seeing how many roadblocks it can throw up to ruin my infamous plans.


Everyone has a plan - until they get punched in the face. - Mike Tyson

Long story short, if I had told my teenage self that I would be where I'm at today, I would probably never believe it.

Most folks know, Cody just started a new job, we moved to a new town, and Baby Combs #2 is due in like a month.  Me and my planning self is basically freaking out.  There are so many unknown variables (where will Emma go to school, what doctor should I see, will this new baby be colicy like Emma?) that just trying to formulate a plan is impossible.  Facing an unknown future is something I'm sooo not good with...

If there is a life lesson that I have GOT to learn, it's that life never goes according to plan.  Look at me, complaining because my husband just landed an awesome job.  We just bought a beautiful home, and we have another precious miracle about to enter our lives.  Such blessings!

Plans are worthless.  Planning is essential. - Dwight D. Eisenhower


With Easter just passing, there's been lots of talk about being tested.  While my need for a well thought out plan is being tested, I simply pray that I stop and smell the roses and realize I have so much to be thankful for.  And that I have the strength (and sanity) to survive make the best of the upcoming weeks.

Crap, that kinda sounds like a plan doesn't it..

And last but not least, because I'm a Mom and I get these ridiculous songs stuck in my head all day, here's one that will surely drive you insane for the better part of a day:

Goodbye 20's, hello 30's

On this wintery snow day (sleet day?) the stars have aligned so that I may take some time to write.  Because of the weather I'm off work, not to mention Emma is actually napping.  A rarity indeed.

Today is a reflective kind-of day anyways, I have roughly 72 hours left of my 20's.  On Monday I'm turning the big 3-0.  I think it's ironic it should fall on a Monday.  A 20-something birthday on a Monday would've been total downer.  Who wants to celebrate on a Monday?  But my 30th, I'm too damn old and too damn pregnant to really care.

I'm not going to be one of those who freaks out about turning 30.  Age is just a number, right?  And what have I accomplished in my 30 years on this earth?  A wonderful husband, beautiful daughter, darling son on the way.  Blessings, so many blessings...

Some might think a career is of some importance, mine is almost a laughing matter, but I've never really cared about that anyways.  I'll get to it eventually, maybe when "Mommy" and "Baby Maker" isn't taking up so much of my time.

I guess what I'm reflecting on the most is how I've celebrated my birthdays through the years.  They always involved family, so many warm memories, homemade cakes, and treasured gifts received.  And let's not forget the parties with my school friends.  Slumber parties, parties at the Bowling Ally, all themed with horses or Barbies, no doubt.  Throw in the inevitable girl fight resulting in someone calling their mom to go home early, and you've got yourself a perfect 'tweeny party. Then there were the milestone birthdays, 13, 16, 18 being the highlights.  I remember them all and they were all very special.

Then there were the 20-something birthdays.  All these involved booze to an extent, probably to a very excessive extent.  (Oops.)  But they were fun nonetheless, after all, isn't that what being 20-something is all about?  I hope ye few readers I have remember helping me celebrate a birthday or two.  They were all a blast, even if the next day's hangover wasn't as much fun.

So what will I be doing on my 30th birthday?  I will be doing some things with my family (both extended and immediate) and have a special weekend planned with two of my closest friends & their families.  On my actual birthday (on Monday, blah) I might pop the top on an O'Doul's for old time's sake.  Actually, I might get more enjoyment out of a bottle of Tums, but that's just the pregnancy talking.  (My 20-something self would be so ashamed.)  Either way, no big blow-out for this one, and that's fine by me.


So, here goes nothing.  I raise my O'Doul's and/or Tums to you.  To my next 30 years.  May it be as full of blessings as my last 30 years.  Cheers!