29...12 months to 30.

I turn 30 this coming December. There, I said it. In years past, this would have killed me. I would have been devastated to think that my twenties were coming to a close and that a new chapter of my life was starting. But, I have made it my mission and resolution to gracefully turn 30 this year.

Here is my plan:

Each month leading up to my birthday I am going to do something brave, different, and out of my comfort zone. My life doesn't always have to be at risk, but it does have to be something I wouldn't normally do. Each month I am going to blog about it and explain why it was so NOT me and what doing it taught me. I am certainly open to suggestions and also for anyone who might be interested in joining me along the way.

-JANUARY-

My brother JJ is all that is man. He has more swords, knives, and random other weapons than I have tubes of horrible pink lipsticks. He is 6'6 with a size 19 shoe, and he rides a motorcycle around town... and he owns it. My whole life I have been known as JJ's sister and no one ever believes that I am older than him because he is just so dang big and manly. Over text before our trip to AZ this December we talked about needing some brother/sister time and the idea of going to the shooting range to spend some time with his girlfriend - a Remington 1911.

I was down. I have shot a few guns and riffles before, but never had much experience at an actual range shooting a target. I knew JJ was the man for the job. He is funny, lighthearted, but he knows his stuff and would keep me safe and be patient with with along the way.  We set a date, and our spouses were totally okay with us having brother/sister time together.

The morning of our shooting date, JJ came over to my parents house on his motorcycle to hang out. We are a pretty laid back family and before we knew it, it was time to go shooting...but JJ had his motorcycle. My mom needed her van that afternoon as well. No matter how we worked it, there wasn't time for JJ to go home and get his car and come back for me to go shooting. In that moment, I decided to be brave.

My good friends know how truly brave this was for me, but I, Mary Beth Meyer, road a motorcycle.

A few years ago one of my best friends was killed on his motorcycle. He left behind his bride of two and a half months and me swearing motorcycles were pure evil. I loved Eric Johnson so much that I couldn't help but blame his bike. If he had been in a car, would we have had to say goodbye to him so quickly? One minute I was Ashley's maid of honor and two short months later I was helping her plan his funeral. It was a whirlwind of tragedy, broken hearts, and fear.

And yet in that moment, when presented with the chance to be brave I decided that I had to do it. You see, since Eric died, I have really struggled with trusting the Lord with my safety and the lives of those around me. His death left me reeling, feeling lost and confused. I couldn't see past my pain and see that God had a plan for my sweet, soul sister Ashley. All I could do was blame drunk drivers, motorcycles, being in the wrong place at the right time. As if God wasn't in control and didn't call Eric home to himself.

So I kissed my baby and husband goodbye, I jumped on the back of JJ's bike and I road. I road for Eric, I road for my brave friend Ashley who has faced fear head on, and I road for myself. I acknowledged my selfish, sinful heart and asked the Lord to protect me. For the first few miles, all I could say to myself was "my time is in His hands".

I lived to tell about it and felt like I could move mountains at that point. You see, no matter if I am on a motorcycle, grocery shopping at a Safeway, teaching in the inner city, or sky diving, I belong to the Lord and He will protect me.

So cheers to facing one of my biggest fears in the first month of my challenge! And be careful, I have a killer aim.