A Quarter of a Century... 25 Things I've Learned in the Last 25 Years

So it's a little weird to be turning 25. I remember telling people that my cousin was 25 and it seemed like that was a very 'adult' age to be, like 25 year olds have it all figured out with their lives together... well, that's a huge lie because I know plenty of people who are 25 or older who haven't got a clue, but when you're 18 (or whatever age I was at the time), 25 seems very far away and very grown up. I certainly don't have all the answers and some days I feel like I've got a clue, but I think I'm doing pretty well...

Here are a few things I've learned:

1. God exists, He loves me, and has a plan for my life.
2. My family is a bit crazy and far from perfect, but the love we have for one another is undeniable, unconditional and unending.
3. There is such a thing as a 'lifetime hotdog quota' and I reached mine around age 6.
4. When you have trouble coming up with reasons for dating someone, you shouldn't be dating them.
5. Good friends will tell you the truth, even if you don't want to hear it. And you'll love them more for doing so, just maybe not right after they tell it to you.
6. Tea makes just about any situation better, especially when shared with friends.
7. Getting right back on the horse after falling off is the best thing to do. (And yes, I mean a real horse that spooked and ran as I tumbled, head over boots off the back of it.)
8. NEVER chug wine, even when your friend tells you it's a great way to celebrate.
9. Knitting is a productive way to keep your hands occupied while trying to lose weight.
10. Mary Kay Skin Care and Color Cosmetics are high quality products that work. They keep my crazy pregnancy skin under control. Thank you, Mom, for sharing these amazing products with me!
11. When everything seems to fall apart, it's God's way of telling you He's building something better for your life.
12. Being a mommy is the most amazing job I could ever have.
13. Southern drivers are crazy. I'd take traffic up north over Southern crazy any day.
14. I am a huge procrastinator.
15. The Air Force 'waiting game' gets a little easier each time you play it, but it's still annoying.
16. I actually enjoy cooking!
17. Baking is something I find very fulfilling and extremely delicious... most of the time!
18. Don't write off the quiet guys, sometimes they turn out to be the most interesting and there is so much to learn about them, you decide that you need a lifetime together to figure just one of them out!
19. No matter the distance or time between phone calls, good friends are always there when you need them- to celebrate, to commiserate, to vent, to cry and to laugh with you.
20. You are the only one who can decide to make the best of the situation and be happy or wallow in self pity and be miserable.
21. Having a tea party with your daughter and her favorite stuffed animals is better than any fancy corporate luncheon with a CEO.
22. The more you know about something, the more annoying it is when people misrepresent it or decide their 'truth' about it is all that is important rather than finding out the facts- specifically for me, this applies to the military, the Catholic church, Mary Kay, and politicians.
23. The Facebook feature of "Hide this story" is wonderful.
24. Every woman can pull off a red lip as long as it's done correctly.
25. Dancing is a great way to beat the blues.