Birthday Extraordinare...(it's a lengthy post, you may want to just skim through!)

This week was momentous for me. I entered a new decade and I embarked on a collaborative celebration for my birthday, my sister's and my dear friend Alisha's. My mom also accompanied us on the amazing vacation. We have always wanted to go sky-diving (with the exception of Shannon!) and flew down to Arizona to fulfill our dream! Quite a few months back, Alisha and I were discussing what to do for our entrance to the "30's." We were then informed by my travel planning and superior surprising husband that he was already arranging something. He planned our entire trip and had started it without our knowledge. We had to fly to Arizona because it is way too cold to do that here in the winter! As soon as we got off the plane we headed to our jumping destination. We received little instruction...pretty much the standard harnassing and the mention that you need to "arch or die." Not the most encouraging of words when you consider falling 10,000 feet. Before I left, Grant had wished me a happy birthday with one request, "don't die, Mom." I figured that was valid. After being hooked we walked onto our luxurious plane (heavy sarcasm here) that would carry us into the horizon. I had joked all along in our trip preparations that I would be fine with the jump as long as we weren't in a dinky plane that was put together with duct tape. Alisha kindly pointed out the adhesive tape was in fact used inside the plane. Scary. Dave had assured me that this was a legitimate company he had researched, but he also told me he had increased my life insurance, so I wasn't convinced on that! Alisha went first, then my mom, then I scooted out to the open door and fell through the air with the greatest of ease and exhilaration like none I have experienced before. I LOVED it and the landing went smoothly (for me)...Alisha looked like she was kneeling over her lunch that came back up, but she just couldn't get back on her feet and my mom walked like a drunken sailor, which she attributed to bad knees) but all in all, it was AMAZING!!

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We stayed a night at a fanciful desert retreat, had an incredible dinner at McCormick and Schmick's, came back to the room to rose petals and chocolate strawberries (arranged by previously mentioned husband of the year). The next morning we had massages and explored downtown Scottsdale. It was PERFECT. Dave did an unbelievable job with my birthday. It was so special, and while I will get an earful for mentioning this, I appreciate how he got us there as much as the trip. He sold items on ebay, negotiated gift cards from work and donated his plasma (his specialty for those of you who know us well), to fund parts of the extravaganza.

As I enter a new decade, I reflect back on my last 30 years. I guess my hope and aspiration is that with each decade, each year, each day really I am getting better. I want to be getting closer to becoming the woman I want to be and know I have the potential to be. I don't want anyone to see me or think my name and have the thought cross their mind, "boy, Kara, she has really gone down hill..." While all of our lives are a journey and experience to test our character, I find that my greatest growth periods have come in situations I didn't necessarily want to be in. If I get a choice, I would like to cap out at 80, so for the next 50 years, I want to choose to not only look for the best in the things, but make the best out of everything. But, with this particular birthday, I didn't need to put in any effort, it just truly was THE BEST.