25, 1/4 of a Century, 1/2 way to 50........

At 7:29 this morning I officially turned 25 years old. A quarter of a century old. Half way to 50 years old.

When I woke up this morning I thought I was already 25, and suddenly remembered I wasn't born until 7:29 a.m., so I enjoyed my last 20 minutes of being 24.

Birthdays that I have looked forward to in the past were 16, 18 and 21, for the obvious reasons. But for some reason 25 made me feel kind of...old.

The past few days I have been thinking of all the times I can possibly remember since I was born. It's kind of fun to reminisce.

When I was a teenager I thought I had my life planned out. I know I'm not the only one. I would play volleyball in college for four years and not get injured, that didn't happen. I would graduate college by the age of 22, that didn't happen. I would be married by the age of 23, that didn't happen. I would have my first kid by 25 at least because I didn't want to be an old mom, that didn't happen. And I never expected anyone so close to me would pass on like my cousin Kelsey and my good friend Collin.

So I just kind of figured out, I can't plan everything. I'm 100 percent happy with my life right now and wouldn't change it for the world.

This is what I do know, I'm going to end up with a masters degree, I didn't rush into marriage and marry the wrong person, I'll have kids when I'm darn good and ready and all the experiences I have had along the way have made me a better person.

Like everyone else, I've been cheated on, treated bad by friends but always had family there for me when I was down. These times have made me wiser. I now have the smarts to pick the right guys and be very picky with my friends. Life is too short to be around people who make you unhappy.

I was raised on the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them to unto you."

It's something that everyone should think about.

I was raised by two amazing parents that have always been there for me, raised me on old fashioned values, supported me, taught me right from wrong, spanked me when I was bad (spanking works) and congratulated me when I did good.

I am blessed to have the close family that I do, to have experienced the things in life that I have, and the things in the future to come.

This is my life from the belly to 25, summed up.

Happy Birthday to me!