Skip to content
home | thoughts | 34 things

34 things

    1. Today is my birthday

    2. I’m 34

    3. October 5th is a very common birthday {go back 10 months and you get New Year’s. Looks like some folks were doing more than kissing at the stroke of midnight}.

    4. I always thought it was the most common birth date in America, but new research shows differently.

    {via}

    5. My claim to fame is now gone. All you September 16th birthday-girls can now be proud that you have the most common birthday.

    6. I am a middle child.

    7. I have two sisters. They are friendly, giving, kind, funny and beautiful. And two of my closest friends.

    {little sister, big sister, me. On big sister’s wedding day 9 years ago yesterday}.

    8. You can’t tell from the photo but we each have a different natural hair color: blonde, brown, red. But the exact same mannerisms.

    9. And we all wore the same wedding dress.

    9. But our weddings were very different. Country club {fancy}. On the beach {elegant}. Summertime celebration {just plain fun}.

    10. Our No. 1 is the oldest of the 9 cousins. For a short window of time this February their ages will be 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, baby. My mom is one happy grandma.

    11. Our No. 2 was eight days old before we named him. We just couldn’t come up with the right one.

    12. We finally made the decision when the hospital called and told us our time was up.

    13. I find it so strange that out of our four kids, none inherited Ryan’s {nearly black} or my {red} hair color.

    14. They all have Ryan’s eye color {very amazing blue}.

    15. And thankfully not my skin color.

    16. My eyes are greenish/goldish/who-knows-what color. When I was a baby, they were crossed.

    17. That is one funky-looking baby. My poor parents.

    18. I have Strabismus a.k.a. lazy eye.

    19. Eye surgeries when I was a baby, six and 18 have taken care of the issue for now.

    20. I pretty much only focus with my right eye {I can still see out of my left, I just don’t use the two together unless I really think about it}.

    21. I can’t do those annoying Magic Eye 3-D things.

    22. And I can’t cross my eyes to make a silly face.

    23. Thankfully, none of our kids are showing signs of eye problems.

    24. My best friend from high school was Brittany Jones.

    25. I was Emily Jones. We are not related.

    26. We were in all the same classes, cheerleaders together and have very, very similar handwriting.

    27. Both of us made our handwriting into a font.

    28.

    29.

    30. You can get hers here and mine here.

    31. Even though all of my friends are runners, I am just not. It hurts my lungs.

    32. The only time I consistently ran was for a short time in college when I had a crush on this cute boy who lived in the dorm on the way to the track. I always hoped I would run into him.

    33. That cute boy is now my handsome husband, daddy to my kids, business partner and putter-upper with my shenanigans. Apparently all that running past him long ago did the trick.

    34. Lots of randomness to be thankful for this year. Family, kids, friends, creativity, straightened-eyes, health, marriage. Feeling particularly full on this my special day.

    Here’s to wishing this year will be the

    127 thoughts on “34 things”

    1. Pingback: Friday Randomness: Some Thoughts From Me | A Blissful Nest

    2. Happy belated birthday! That’s too cute about you and your best friends names….my mama and her best friend (since they were both about eight years old) are both named Dorothy Mae, they are both very fair skinned and both had red hair as little girls….LOL !

    3. Happy birthday! I’m September 16th! Too funny…now I can brag that my birthday is on Mexican Independence Day AND the day 10 months after the friskiest day of year, apparently. Ha!

    4. Happy Birthday! Thank you for sharing a little bit about the real you with us…love your blog! May God richly bless you with another year of His blessings!

    5. Happy belated birthday. I am a new follower to your blog and I love it. I also love that you are an Azusa grad as I am too :) after reading your blog I was inspired about your relationship with your sisters. I wondered when looking back what you remember your parents did that brought you guys close together. I have two girls 2, 10mths and I would love any little tip as I did not grow up in a Christian home but want more than anything for that to be the foundation for our family! Thanks for your time :)

    6. Hi Emily, I just found your blog yesterday and just had to tell you how I love the items in your shop- and your blog. I can’t wait to get some birthday money next month and when I do, I’ll be doing some shopping with you! I especially love the art work of the old hymns! Oh, how I love the words of the hymns . . . thanks, and happy belated birthday!

    7. Thanks for sharing a bit more about yourself. I’m really enjoying getting to know you through your blog. Yours is the first blog I started following with great consistency and it always adds a bit of sunshine to my day. Happy Birthday!

    8. happy (belated) birthday! mine is sept. 30, and i, too, always thought i had the most common birthday. (i was due oct. 3.) i am also a middle child. loved reading this and finding out that we have some things in common!

    9. Happy Belated Birthday! I too am an October 5th baby — and, get this, was born on my Dad’s birthday. Best birthday present ever, as I like to say. There were always at least 3 or 4 other kids with my birthday growing up, so I am surprised to learn we are no longer the most popular birthday.

      Hope you had a wonderful birthday weekend!

    10. I had (have?) the same thing with they eye. Surgery at 2, 3 & 17… hoping that stinky lazy eye doesn’t come back to haunt me because my insurance is not as awesome as my dads was :) You have pretty eyes. I wouldn’t have known.

    11. I also share your lazy eye. I had several surgeries in the 1960’s and can report at age 48 that my eyes are perfect! Like you, my eyes do not work together at all and I hate those 3-D picture thingys..I simply cannot see what others see. It’s all good.

    12. Happy Birthday Emily! My bday is Sept 19…and most all of my friends (and husband) are in August or Sept…now I know why! Love reading your blog and this post with all your fun facts…thanks for sharing and have a great day!

    13. Happy Birthday!
      Oh my goodness, I have strabismus and have had two eye surgeries too (one at 3 and one at 19- I’m 33 now)! I also am like you in that I mainly just use my left eye, I don’t have vision fusion or whatever it’s called. It makes me feel much less weird to know you understand! ;) And besides the Magic Eye things, I can’t see 3D in any form. I remember being so upset at Disneyland when I couldn’t see the Michael Jackson 3D movie. It just looked like a bunch of separate images, ha. Thank you for sharing that!

    14. i realize that you have 100 comments before this, but i had to tell you: i had strabismus too. :) i only had surgeries as a child and i’ve been told that my eyes never cross, but i really only ever use one eye to focus, too. i’m telling you this because it made me feel such relief to read that you (gorgeous successful gal) had it too. thanks for sharing. also, i’ll be 34 in november (one of the least common dates, ha). and also, i love your blog!

    15. I am 11 minutes past your birthday, but I hope your day was a great one! Loved your random-ness in the post today. My husband’s football number was 34! I think your experience with running was an exceptionally smart move. :) Enjoy your birthday weekend.

    16. Hope you had a great day! Love your blog and your heart…I am so happy I stumbled onto Jones Design I’ve been following you since 2011. I am a Libra too born on 10/15.

    17. Happy Birthday Emily…today is my mom’s b’day too and mine is tomorrow. I know so many creative Libras! This is such a nice idea…to reflect on our lives and be thankful for our blessings!

    18. Happy birthday! Nice list!

      I forgot about your strabismus (which I share). I stumbled upon this lady, Susan Barry, who wrote a book with Oliver Sacks called Fixing My Gaze. She was able to start seeing in 3-D in her 40s and shares the eye exercises she did…You can also find her on YouTube and TEDtalks. I have yet to be disciplined with the exercises, but it’s fascinating nonetheless!

    19. Happy Birthday! I too am a October baby, mine the 13th. Its so hard to believe that I will be 37. I have so many blessings – My husband, my son Jack – 7 years old, and our new edition, baby daughter Annie – 5 months old. God is great!

    20. Wishing you a very happy birthday! I enjoyed reading your list, and love that you and your sisters all wore the same wedding dress – I wonder if your girls (I’m assuming that Audrey isn’t the only girl) will one day wear it, too.
      Thanks so much for taking the time to drop me a note the other day – I had no idea that my print had made it onto the front page of etsy, so it was a fun surprise to get your email!
      Happy birthday!

    21. happy birthday! i love this post. how sweet that you used people throughout your life- bf, sisters, kids, parents, and hubby.. to talk about where you are today. I absolutely LOVE that you and your sisters all wore the same wedding dress.. how special! hope your day was great and you got something yellow :)

    22. Happy Birthday! Came across your blog by accident today through Pinterest, so glad I did. I too had strabismus that was not corrected until I was 22. I have never met anyone else that has had it before. So nice to know that someone else understands that my eyes don’t work together. If you tell people this while you are driving they tend to white knuckle the armrest. Lol

    23. Happy Birthday! You are a baby!!! I did not have my second child till I was 35, and I am sitting here thinking of you with 4!
      Hope you have a fantastic day and are spoiled by all those who love you.
      xo~Jill

    24. Happy Birthday!! And, thanks for sharing…especially about the strabismus. My sweet 20 month old daughter, Elliana is scheduled for her second surgery on Nov 20th. I am dreading it, but so encouraged by seeing how well you’ve done with it! God bless!

    25. Happy Birthday! Turns out we are one day apart. Mine was yesterday and I also turned 34. I don’t even remember how I came upon it, but I love your blog!

    26. Emily, happy, happy day and year ahead! I always enjoy your posts and thank you for the many moments of inspiration.

      xo,
      Kathleen McS.

    27. Love your blog and all your great ideas. Am I the only one who couldn’t get to “your” font? Every time I clicked on it, it took me to a page with your pretty picture on it and the words, “page not available”! Any suggestions? Thanks

    28. happy birthday!!!

      I too had crossed eyes when I was young. And can’t see any of those silly 3d movies. I JUST last year fixed the lazy eye I’ve had since about 8 or 10. I can’t say how happy it makes me to see myself with 2 straight eyes. Something that some people never even noticed stuck out to me every time I looked in the mirror or saw a picture of myself!

      Hope you have a wonderful 34th year!!

    29. Happy Birthday to you! We have 3 daughters…the middle is not called the “middle” child. She is the “center” child, and that term fits her well–even today as a 22 year old! lol

    30. The world has been blessed with you for 34 years and we pray that blessing continues. We all enjoy sharing your life and all you do. You are very talented and inspirational. I also would like to see your reading list and wonder when you find time to read. Have a lovely birthday.

    31. Hello Emily! Happy birthday girl.
      Oh how I wish I was 34 again!

      My daughters and I loved this birthday post and laughed up a storm.
      So… your wedding gown was it first your mothers’ ?
      Beautiful post thank you for sharing…
      And Friday! such a great day for a birthday.
      Enjoy it and have fun!

      Hugs,

      Sandy (and daughters Cheyenne and Tyishia)

    32. Happy 34th! Thank you for sharing with everyone that it is your birthday so we can wish you well. You are such a talented woman, thank you for also sharing your talents and wonderful personality with the world. Have a wonderful day.

    33. Happy Birthday!

      I just have to add because it’s so funny that you mentioned it— my sisters and I all have different natural hair colors too– red, blonde and brown. And I’m also the redheaded middle child. Imagine that. :) I love that we’re so different and even our hair color shows that. Sounds like it was like that with you and your sisters too.

      Enjoy your 34th year!

    34. I enjoy your posts so much – you’re always very positive and uplifting. Your spirituality comes through.
      After your birthday celebration is over, will you consider a post of your reading list? I just finished The Kitchen House (you recommended recently) and it was wonderful. I have time to read during my daily 3 hour commute on public transit and would love book suggestions. Too much of what I have read lately is trash.
      Happy birthday! I’m glad your hubby didn’t run too fast for you to catch him :)

    35. Wishing you a very merry day full of pumpkin spice latte goodness to warm your belly, hugs from your kids and Man to warm your heart, and gestures of love in the forms of gifts that make you smile to fill the day with delights.

    36. Happy birthday. Love your site. Just love it all.

      I have lazy eye too, and they crossed until I was 7. Good to see your kiddos have escaped the trauma! Always fun to find out I’m not the only one who can’t use the magical 3D. :)

    37. Happy Birthday! Today is my son’s 7th birthday… never thought about the New Year’s Eve theory before lol ;) enjoy your day!

    38. Happy birthday to us! I love our birthday dateĆ°ÅøŽā‚¬
      Now I know why I connect and enjoy your blog so much.Ć°ÅøĖœā€°

    39. I hope you have a wonderful day filled with laughter, joy, presents and treats :)

      I’ve been following your blog for a few weeks now and I just love how amazingly creative you are. Thank you for sharing your creativity.

    40. Happy Birthday! What a fun post =) I love your blog, and I love that it took 8 days after your son was born to decide on a name. We had a hard time deciding on our daughter’s name, but thankfully we managed to settle on one just before she was born. And today is my mother’s birthday – my own was 3 days ago. I had no idea September and October were so very common for birthdates!

    41. Happy 34th Birthday!! My baby girl (now 22) also had crossed eyes as a baby but had them un-crossed at 6 months. We have many pictures like yours of her. And No! 34 is not old. The best is yet to come!

    42. happy birthday emily! i hope it’s a great birthday weekend for you! i thought your three wedding styles seemed appropriate for typical first-born, middle child and baby. :) and my birthday is september 12. i had no idea that week was so common!

    43. Happy 34th Emily! I also turned 34 today! And…I had my third child 1 year ago today…yep…she arrived on my birthday…she was 5 days late!

    44. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I love that we are birthday twins and every year I love reading your blog post on our birthday. Hope it’s a great one! Mine’s been great so far!

    45. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy every part of your day and the whole year!!! I just turned 36 a few weeks ago, and my husband 39 yesterday…..more popular dates :)

    46. Today, I turn….. 34!!! I know so many people who share my day, but no one who shares the EXACT same day! Hope that your day is filled with many blessings!

      P.S. I am also loving your blog class!!! :)

    47. I hope you have a wonderful day today! Thank you for sharing, this was fun to learn more about you. May God bless and grow you this year!

    48. Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy blogging as much as I enjoy reading your blog! Love your supprise about how common Sept. birthdays are. As an L&D nurse I always knew that, but its great to see it put on a graph! (I am going to show my co-workers) Enjoy the sunshine on your special day!

    49. Happy Birthday Emily! I love your post today. I’ll be 30 on the 15th. Yay for October birthdays! :) Have the most amazing day and a fabulous year!

    50. Just plain sweet. I hope you have a wonderful day and year. You are adorable…and if I didn’t live on the east coast, I would search you out cause I could so have you as my friend!!!

    51. Thank you for sharing how I can celebrate my mothers 90th birthday with 90 ramblings. Very cute, my favorite was how the three beautiful sisters shared the same dress.

    52. Happy Birthday! My birthday (october 1st) looks like a pretty common birthday, but I’ve never met anyone with the same birthday as me. I think its pretty cool that you wore the same wedding dress as your sisters, btw!

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *