Reflections of a(n almost) 30 yr old

I have been sitting here thinking about things, reflecting on my life these past almost 30 years (monday the 20th is the dirty 30) and I came to a few conclusions. You know how when you are younger you set goals for yourself? Well I never really though I would accomplish any of the goals I set for myself when I graduated High School. But to my surprise I actually have. My goals when I graduated HS were as follows, and let me be more specific, I was to accomplish these things before I turned 30...

1. Graduate College
2. Get Married
3. Have 2 kids
4. Have a successful Career

The way things were going for me a few years ago, there was no way in hell I was going to accomplish any of these goals. I was in a never ending cycle of no good. Then a few things happened. First was that I became a father of the most amazing, smart, beautiful little girl. It definitely wasn't a planned thing, but at that point in my life nothing that happened was planned. But it opened my eyes. It helped me realize what I needed to do to become a better person on the inside and the outside.

About a year later I flew out to Idaho to meet the woman who would become my wife. This was a much needed change. My life in Wisconsin wasn't great, thats not to say that I don't miss it. I do. I miss my friends, at least the REAL friends, and I miss my family. Anyways, coming out to Idaho was what I needed.
So I got married this past June. And when that happened I inherited another daughter.

So I accomplished 2 of my 4 goals. 2 goals that I never ever thought I would have accomplished by this time, especially looking back on how things were going for me.
Coming up here in a few days will not only be my 30th birthday, but the year and a half mark of me being smoke free and drug free. That accomplishment in itself is huge.

I just have 2 goals that I need to accomplish still and they are graduating college and achieving a successful career. They kind of go hand in hand. I mean you don't need to graduate college to have a successful career, but you are much more likely to have one if you do graduate.

I can't thank anyone enough for sticking with me through these 30 years, even when I was unbearable. Thank you Mom, Brad, Brendan, Grandma, Lynne, David. Thank you to my beautiful wife for accepting me and loving me flaws and all. Thanks to all my friends for sticking with me and being by my side.