Happy Birthday to ME!!!

...yeppers, today's my big 2-8!!! I wanted to do a post to see what the year of 27 had in store for me:

*We bought a new truck and didn't kill each other.
*I started training two days after my birthday for a half marathon.
*I lost weight...and then gained it back.
*I ran.
*I found out IVF would be the only way to have a child naturally.
*I ran.
*I ran in my first ever 10k.
*I ran.
*I played in my first ever golf tournament and didn't suck too bad.
*I ran.
*I ran in the Delta Gamma 5k for the second year and beat my previous year's time.
*I ran.
*I broke up with my girl doctor.
*I ran.
*I watched a friend's son be honored at the STL Zoo.
*I ran.
*I ran and completed my first ever Half Marathon!!!
*I expanded my friendships with my Bloggie Friends and Tweeps.
*I ran the Macklind Mile on Fourth of July with Sarah.
*We got to go on our annual float trip again!!!
*Matt volunteered and camped at the fair again and I was okay with not going EVERY night.
*I was part of a triathlon team and we did pretty awesome!
*I rode my bike more this year than the last 5 year's of my life!
*My dad and I walked his first ever 5k together.
*I got over my fear and donated blood.
*I finished a marathon!!!
*Mattie and I celebrated 2 years of marriage.
*I went to FL with some high school friends for one of their weddings.
*I went through the entire IVF process and got a BFN.
*I ran a very successful Trivia Night for the American Lung Association.

Whew-I was BUSY!!! Looking back, it seems like I spent most of my 27th year running. If you can't tell, it was also a VERY roller coaster year. Reading all of that though, I'm SO PROUD of myself. I set three major goals last year: run a half marathon, complete a marathon and go through IVF. I can say that I've successfully completed all of them! Each of my goals were mentally and physically exhausting but I marked them all off my list. Yes, we got a BFN but surviving an entire cycle of IVF is a feat in it's own.

My 27th year, I also met so many new friends and dare I say that I have a social life now! I branched out, found new friends and I love each and every one of them. I can definitely say 27 has blessed me with so many new friendships that I'm grateful for.

One thing I'm especially proud of, is that during my 27th year of life, I feel like I officially became an adult. Matt and I had so many decisions, options, choices to make this year and together we did it. We survived the biggest disappointment of our lives, something only the two of us could experience together. We made decisions about our finances, our health, and our future on our own. We consulted no one except each other. I feel like I am finally an adult now because I've done these things. I don't know if that makes sense, in my head it does but I'm not sure I'm typing it as I truly can express it.

So 27, you tried to rock me, knock me down but you didn't. I stood up for myself and I'm stronger for it. I'm working on becoming a better person. I can say I'm happy with me, maybe not every day, and I know I have a long ways to go before I'm the person I want to be but 27 definitely pushed me to get to where I want to be going.

So in conclusion, happy birthday to me!