Some of you know that I have purchased new bedroom furniture.  I’m very excited about this furniture – it’s adult, grown-up furniture.  But to be honest, I’m even more excited about the new mattress that is coming.

You see, I have had the same bedroom suite since I was three years old.  While my parents did an excellent job of purchasing a set that would “grow” with me and not look too “kid-ish” I felt it was time for something new.  Actually it became necessary to find something new.

It all began about two years ago.  What started this whole process was the mattress.  I needed a new one.  The coils had started to warp and cause unecessary pressure points.  It would squeak every time I moved and if I had been lucky enough to finally fall asleep the noise would wake me right back up.  It definitely had seen better days and I certainly had had better nights. 

The bed was a full size bed and I thought about just replacing the mattress and be done with it.  But then I thought that if I bought a mattress I should plan to keep the furniture for another 10 years or so – at least as long as the new mattress would hold up.  As I debated this off and on over the course of a couple of years (meanwhile not sleeping terribly well) I finally decided to move forward with a completely new set of furniture, new mattress, the whole kit-n-kaboodle.  I would upgrade to a queen size bed requiring new sheets and comforter, etc…

So I did it.  I made the purchase.  A lovely set.  Queen size bed, sleigh headboard, footboard with under-the-bed storage drawers, cedar-lined interior, beautiful details.  And to match this major upgrade, the crown piece of this entire deal… the amazing mattress (amazingly expensive too)…  but my oh my, the cushy, stable, most comfortable thing I’ve ever laid on mattress was well worth every penny.  Especially since I haven’t really slept well in about two years due to the slow demise of my current set.

The furniture is on backorder and while I’ve been anxiously awaiting its arrival I’ve had some projects to take care of. 

First task:  emptying out all of the drawers and clearing out from under the bed.  Man, what a chore!  After nearly 7 years it is amazing how much I have accumulated in this one room of my house.  I spent a couple of days sifting through clothes, photos, what nots, etc… and repacking it all into boxes and plastic tubs to store in my second bedroom until the new dresser and chest arrives.   

Second task:  moving the old furniture out.  Well, I had to do this when I had help available and so that happened to be on Labor Day weekend.  My brother and a family friend came over with a truck and helped me dismantle my childhood furniture, load it up on the truck and carry it back over to the original home from whence it came – my mom’s house.  Then we proceeded to carry it back up to the original, second-story bedroom it had been in years ago and assemble it once again to live happily ever after in my mother’s care.  At least until I get a larger home and can accomodate extra furniture.

We then loaded a  30 year old mattress and box springs back in the truck, returned to my little home and delivered it to my now empty, baren, master bedroom where it was accompanied only by a small TV, a lamp, and an alarm clock in the floor.  This was to be my bed until the new furniture arrived (however long that would take).  Little did I know that sleeping on the ancient, 30 year old mattress and box springs would be just about like sleeping on the floor.  Hard, cold, feels like a board kind of uncomfortable.

Third task: I have also taken this time to clean the carpets in the house since it is probably the only time for a while when I’ll have the least amount of furniture to shuffle and move.

In the last few weeks I have spent my nights alternating between the mattress that lays in the bedroom floor like it would in some college kid’s room and my couch – neither of which are exactly the ideal sleeping situation.  I have also struggled to find enough clothes, socks and underwear readily accessible since I seemed to have packed up everything I ever owned and piled it ceiling high in the second bedroom.   I hate to admit it but there’s barely room to stand right inside the doorway…

So I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new furniture – but especially the state-of-the-art mattress.  After a couple of years of restless sleep and a few weeks of really uncomfortable, restless sleep, I’m putting all my hope into my new mattress.  I am hoping that it is the cure for sleepless nights, for awaking in the morning to stiff joints, for persistent fatigue, for uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, and for unecessary noise in the middle of the night.  For the price, it better be the miracle I need.  It is coming into my home under a lot of pressure.  It has to earn its keep.  After all, this whole event, this entire furniture experience, started all because of a mattress.

Since turning 30 is considered such a milestone in a person’s life, I thought it appropriate to create a list of 30 basic principles or realizations I’ve learned and acquired over the course of mine. 

Some of them have come from observation, some from my own experiences, some are funny, some are serious… but all very important.  Take from them what you will.

In no particular order:

1. Friends are extremely important.

2. Life is entirely too short.

3. You can never replace your family so appreciate and love them – even if it is difficult sometimes.

4. You can’t change anyone but yourself – so if you don’t like something, look in the mirror and try to improve from there.

5. God is the only true thing that will never let you down.

6. Don’t spend more than you make.

7. Forgiving someone is golden.

8. Everything in your life happens in baby steps so don’t try to rush it, you’ll just be left with frustration.

9. Cats multiply entirely too quickly. (For those of you who know me, you will understand this one).

10. Always stop to take in and appreciate the simple things, those are often the best gifts you’ll ever receive.

11. Listen to people older than you, they often have more wisdom whether you are willing to admit it or not.

12. Hard work is the only way to be truly successful.

13. It is through difficulties that we build our character, however it is through prosperity that we demonstrate our character.

14. You can learn something from everyone you meet if you just pay attention.

15. Life isn’t easy, but it’s so worth it.

16. My mom is the best friend I’ll ever have.

17. Boredom is a symptom of laziness.

18. Always keep toilet paper readily available in the house.

19. While it is exciting to travel and see the world, there’s no place like home.

20. Always listen to your gut – your heart is too emotional and your head overthinks everything. 

21. You can never go wrong by giving something of yourself to another.

22. Despite the best planning, sometimes life’s detours allow you to experience the sweetest moments of your life.

23. Turning the stove on does help your effort to boil a pot of water.

24. Lying only leads to consequences. (You can thank my parents for that realization).

25. Loving someone and allowing them to love you back is one of the hardest but most rewarding adventures you’ll ever go on.

26. New cars can be wrecked and damaged just as easily as old cars.

27. Pick your battles.

28. You must do something productive every day.

29. Doing something that will put a smile on another’s face is never a waste.

30. 30 is just a number.

This doesn’t even begin to scrape the surface of thirty years of lessons but hopefully this gives you a small idea of what I’ve learned along the way.  It’s hard to believe I have three decades of life experiences behind me.  A Spot of Thankfulness for today, my 30th birthday, is that I am grateful for the wonderful life I’ve had so far and I’m now looking toward the next thirty in hopes they’ll be the best years of my life.