happy birthday

Happy Birthday..

I have come quite accustomed to hearing these two words through out the past 20 years of my life.. How crazy these passed 20 have been, and I cannot wait for the next 20 to come!

As excited I am for my birthday this year, I am gently reminded how substantially different this year will be compared to the year before, and the year before that..but then again that is just part of growing up I suppose.

This year on my birthday I won't be blessed to get a phone call from my favorite lady singing happy birthday, and telling me how much she loves me. I really am going to miss hearing that little song. I won't wake up to a room full of balloons, or crazy writing on my car from my brother met with a birthday hug. My big day doesn't seem as big without him. My best friend, who is strongly serving the lord won't be here to spend the day with me, and go to our favorite place like we have for the past three years. I miss my ginger. This year my heart is heavy with things this day will be missing.

Just like always however, I am reminded quite loudly how much I have on days like this.
I have one amazing mother. She often says how lucky she is to have me, but I don't think she realizes that I am the one that is lucky. I have a mom, a best friend, and my other half in one person. What more could a girl ask for in a mom? She is the strongest, most loving, and caring person I know, and I know exactly who she learned that from.. her mom.. just like I am learning from her. I have one awesome dad. He is my rock. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this guy is my favorite guy. Some girls say they are a daddy's girl, but I am lucky enough to say I am a daddy's girl and a momma's girl. I lucked out in the parent departed that is for sure.
I have so many angels who I feel guiding me every day, leading me towards the person I want to be, and helping to lift me up when I am on my knees.
and in the past twenty minutes of writing this I am even more loudly shown others in my life who mean so much to me.
I have one amazing family. A family who is so much a part of my life I can't picture a moment where I will ever have to do this life alone because I am lucky enough to have amazing aunts and uncles who love me, and cousins who have become more like siblings than cousins. I love you all more than I could ever say with words, and I hope you know how much you all mean to me. Thank you for everything..
I have one amazing sister, Kellee Jo your love, and support mean so much to me. I am grateful everyday that our moms met so many years ago, so that I could have a best friend for the past 20 years who has been such a light, and example to me. You mean the world to me.
I am grateful for my MOJ (: you three girls have affected my life with each moment we have spent together. I can't picture spending my life with three better friends than you. I love you ladies.
I have one incredible, strong willed grandfather. Who has been a gleaming example to me of Christ my entire life. I am grateful to have him here, to laugh with, to learn from, and to be a granddaughter to.

I am blessed beyond words, and on my birthday what greater gifts could I ask for than these people, and all of you reading this. I am so loved, and I love you all. Thank you.. and here's to many more birthdays! WHAHOOOO! 21 anyone? (;

gentle reminders

Some days I am reminded how amazing it is to go to a school where every class I get a thought that makes me feel the spirit, and remind me of the bigger picture. I will admit there are quite a few times where I question why I went to school here, but it is days like this that remind me of the love my Heavenly Father loves me that I know I made the right choice..

So enjoy the thought I received yesterday, that reminded me the bigger picture.

I hope you know, I'm having a hard time..