Well I welcome my 22nd year of life with a smile on my face and gratitude to where the last year has led me. While many people take the time to do this on New Years starting with new resolutions and goals for a new year, I think people have it all wrong. Why do it when the years changes, we wouldn't be who we are without a day of birth. So reflecting back on my 21st year of life I take time to soak all up and to really be thankful and happy for another day of birth. What better way to do that than through some photos!
In a year I have learned a lot and maybe I am more aware because I am a year wiser (highly doubtful). From going out for my first legal drink I rang in a new year with friends and Phil and Sam. I spent time with family on the boat as well. I have gained a second family working for the family I work for in Kalamazoo and get to hang out with two now three amazing boys, they help me my soul young. I experienced what it was like to tackle a long distance relationship with a boy who works for the Tigers and the perks that come with that as well as the highs and unfortunate lows. I also did things this past summer like sail for the first time with Caroline what a blast. We welcomed new comers to decorate cookies. I moved into a new place that I call home in Kalamazoo and started from scratch decorating, making it cozy and adjusting to living with a new roommate. We welcomed Christmas with a real tree and decorations. I took up a new hobby of mountain biking and love it! I learned to enjoy different types of music by attending it in concert. I welcomed a new sister and threw a bridal shower and stood in the wedding. Family growing is pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I realized how fantastic Britt is as a person and friend and was able to celebrate her birthday in October and she made a couple trips to see me in Kalamazoo for a night out and a night in -- both times classics! I have also become close to others and it is so refreshing to be surrounded by people who lift you up, make you experience experiences I wouldn't normally do (paintballing, etc.) and having your back always. I had the opportunity to finish a year of course work and teach a awesome young man who is something else and that smile above still gets me and puts a smile on my face and giggle in my belly. I conquered a 10k, now on to a half marathon. I experience friends and Brads life accomplishments. I have struggled and dealt with family trials and health, and I am firm believer it makes us all stronger.
All of these events and there are many I am forgetting have shaped and led me to so much & as this year bring another birthday I take a moment to realize that my birthday marks a month from being back from Africa. What a beautiful thing, what a beautiful thing that experience has done to me and how it has shaped me. I think it is a good day to celebrate!
I start my 22nd year of life with a bang! I wanna take all the good in and be away with the bad and negative life sucking things in my life. I want to laugh more, live more, do more, help more. Be more. I wanna make new friends and become closer with the old ones and filter out the ones who don't care. Life is too short to not be living it. And with each new year we are blessed with the good fortunes of getting yet another shot at living life to its fullest and embracing it all. After all laughter, friends, family, the goals in which I set for myself are good they are rejuvenating. And like never before I am motivated and driven in a whole new way. Here is to my 22nd year of life where changes will happen, memories will be made, pictures will capture those moments, and laughter will be had followed with those tears that are necessary to fill the scars and burns that life will always throw our way.
Happy Birthday to me! And thank you to all who made my birthday celebrations so truly special --- you all are amazing && I love you!
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FollowThrough has a new look with new changes and links, etc. I plan to post more about it soon, until then keep reading, keep smiling & keep loving!
One last thing -- I want to end this post with something Britt wrote in my birthday card, I love it and it really sums up the essence of this whole post:
"I hope that your birthday brings you great joy, but more importantly I hope that each day from here on out brings you great joy. That you will be able to wake up each day and be reminded of this one thing 'This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.- Psalm 118:24 --- Make every second of your 22nd year count!"
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