A Very Merry Birthday & the Joy of Friendships

Yesterday I turned 27. Last year I turned 26, fancy that. I wrote a blog a year ago about how amazing it is that my birthday is also Christmas in July. It's a wonderful thing, this birthday/Christmas thing I've got going. But yesterday was an insane day. Literally from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed I was bombarded with love. Here's what I mean… 

5:40 am. Woke up 

6:00 am. Camp Gladiator… that ended with popsicles! 

7:10 am. Walked into my house from Camp Gladiator to our dining room decked out in Christmas decorations with Amanda yelling "Merry Birthday!!" I was so in shock that I didn't know what to do. 

8:15 am. Roommates made a wonderful breakfast and we enjoyed talking, gluten free pancakes, coffee, all while listening to Rosie Thomas Christmas music! Best album ever. 

9:30 am. Head to work, with PaToya, which was a treat! Got a phone call with my niece Emily singing Happy Birthday!

10:00 am. Got to train new volunteers on caring for widows in East Austin through the BAGS program. Then PaToya and I, along with some other volunteers got to deliver groceries and just talk with these wonderful women!

12:30 pm. A coworker had left notes and soaps from Bath & Body Works on my desk!

1:00 pm. Took PaToya home and grabbed Kristen Howell who came in town for my birthday! Talked to my parents and heard the annual "My name is Zoom and I live on the moon" song! 

2:00 pm. Kristen, Mandi and I had lunch at The Steeping Room! Tea and best friends from college, on my birthday, in Austin!?! Seriously! How did my life get such a gift?!

4:00 pm. Kristen and I find a few new tops on sale at Anthropologie! FTW!

7:00 pm. Met a group of friends on the roof of Whole Foods and played a new game called 'Geocaching War' running around downtown looking for geocaches. So awesome! My team ran 2 miles and hated me, but we had fun! And made a friend who valets cars. 

8:30 pm. Ran into Jaquon (a friend I met through Mission Possible) in Whole Foods. Dinner and more friends on the roof! Lyndsey surprised me with my favorite dessert from Whole Foods, after seeking out suggestions and my mom's knowledge of desserts I love. 

(Please note the photo bomber... I definitely called him out on it.) 

10:30 pm. Head home and PaToya says we aren't done… 

11:00 pm. Proceed to watch "Merry Birthday" videos from friends, kids at Mission Possible, family, etc. I think it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen! And my roommates gave me a present with some of the most thoughtful, tear-jerking cards/books I've ever read by friends. If I can find a way to share these, I WILL. 

Other amazing things that didn't fit the timeline: 

• cards and presents from friends and grandparents and my sister! 
• treats at work on and getting to share words of wisdom from my past year at work (which made me laugh because I would have had to do that with Granddaddy)! 
• Voicemails and texts and Facebook messages…. 

I am honestly overwhelmed by the amount of love I have received in the last few days. If you're reading this, I'm grateful for you. Seriously. I am amazed to this day by the people in my life. You are all like family to me. Thank you for loving me like Jesus, just because. I am grateful for this life I have the privilege of living, the friends and family I have the joy of knowing and doing life with, and utlimately I am grateful for a God who gives such good gifts to His people, just because. 

Thank you for helping me celebrate another year of life and God's faithfulness.

Soli Deo Gloria. 

Happy 85th Birthday Papaw!

Today is my grandfather's 85th birthday! Isn't that amazing? I wish I was in Wichita Falls to celebrate his 85 years of life but since I can't be there, I thought I'd write from afar what he means to me!

If you haven't gathered this from previous blogs, God has blessed me with an incredible family. I know without a doubt that Papaw loves and supports me. Things I love about Papaw: He is funny and a great storyteller. Hearing stories about his days in the school system and the changes as they occurred in Wichita Falls amaze me.  His reputation for caring for people regardless of race or class in a time where that was not the norm are inspiring. His ability to connect with people and build relationships with them is something I seek to emulate.

He is a good friend and loves his family. As I get more years under my belt, I realize how important maintaining friendships is. I love that about Papaw. He has a great group of friends who all support each other and have known each other for so long. I've talked with my friends about creating consistency and regular meetings together, and it is quite difficult to do that. But I think of Papaw and their group of friends who get together and I'm challenged to make it happen and build that consistency with my friends.

Goodness. It is a gift to be a part of his family. I can't tell you how much I love who Papaw is and what having not just one but two grandfathers involved in my life has been like. That's a rarity I know and so to be raised in the same town as both my grandfather's was a HUGE gift. Happy Birthday Papaw! I love you and am so grateful to be a part of your legacy!