Reflections on turning 30

What I don't have
-A car

What I do have
-A rockin' stroller

What I don't have
-Laundry in my home

What I do have
-The ability to wash up to nine loads simultaneously

What I don't have
-A perfect body

What I do have
-A husband who treats me like I have a perfect body; also, great abs and nice ankles

What I don't have
-A scintillating career

What I do have
-Lots of time with my children and good friends with whom to celebrate and commiserate the former

What I don't have
-A bigger house than 90% of my friends and family

What I do have
-Sufficient space to comfortably accommodate our growing family

What I don't have
-Unlimited cash

What I do have
-More than I need, enough of what I want

What I don't have
-Perfect children who are always obedient and well behaved

What I do have
-Two kids who are a wonderful mish-mash of John, me, and their own little selves

What I don't have
-A perfect marriage or a husband who always lets me do what I want

What I do have
-A partner who shares my beliefs and my long-term goals, who truly wants to make me happy, and who doesn't let me walk all over him in a misguided attempt to please me (which would never work anyway, if we're being honest)

-Also, a Costco membership, a doorman, a new kindle to replace the one John gave me for Christmas 2009 that I left on an airplane in March 2010, and seven birthday desserts (a four-dessert "tasting menu" family party arranged by John, including macaron from Financier and cheesecake lollipop from David Burke, plus three desserts at dinner)

Basically, on turning 30, I pretty much have it made. Not because my life is perfect. It isn't. But it's got enough of the good stuff and the bad stuff to teach me what matters. If I can't find happiness in all that, I don't deserve it. So, here's to the next 10 years, which will probably be mostly filled with the same stuff as the last three plus a few new adventures. I'll raise a cupcake to that.