Twenty-Eight
In other years, I've written this post before my birthday. I've posted about 26 things I've learned in 26 years and a recap of sorts on my 27th year.
This year, though, mostly since I'm behind on everything, I'll show you what we did to ring in my 28th (yesterday). It's crazy to think I'm this close to thirty. THIRTY, you guys!
But if there is on thing that being twenty-eight has already taught me, it is that God is so good. He is present, even when we are not so present for Him. He is bigger than our trials, bigger than our joys, and bigger than our selfish selves. He is faithful, even when His path looks different from ours. He hasn't forgotten about you, and He has reminded me that no sin is too big to forgive. He has placed in my life, such incredible people. My loving, hilarious husband, our families, our caring friends...
God is good. In good seasons or bad. He is so good.
This past year has been all sorts of ups and downs and all arounds, but I have Christ as my rock, my husband as my never ending comedic relief, and a pupper to snuggle and annoy all the day long. 2017 has been a year to remember and cherish!
For my birthday, I had been dying to get to a new coffee shop that just opened in Atlanta. I had tried their coffee back around Christmastime, and was soooo grateful to finally get a taste of real coffee around here (I come from Milwaukee where roasteries are common) that I didn't need to spoil with milk or sugar. They have a gorgeous, new brick and mortar shop in Midtown and it was definitely worth the drive. Go give East Pole a try!
After our coffee stop, Tom also took me to the restaurant I've been waiting to try called Star Provisions. Oh. my. goshhhh. This place was amazinggggg. I had the Italian sausage on a hoagie, and Tom had the Prosciutto (that had butter so creamy we thought it was mayo for a second). We finished everything off with some bakery desserts. Not only was the food absolutely perfect, but the building and market was super cute and right up my alley. I could have gone to these places any old time, but I hate going places I know Tom would love too! So I'm glad I waited and we went together. Here's some photos of the day!
Did you really think I wouldn't include my big baby bear doggeroo?! Hondo has been everything we hoped for in our dream-dog and more. We just love this big bear to pieces and look forward to his butt-wagging wiggles each and every day. He has made a year of lots of valleys, one with a few more peaks. I never imagined I could love a dog so much, but you better believe this guy is a momma's boy and he gets so much stinking attention from me it's almost embarrassing! Thank you for bringing such joy to our home, sweet Hondo.
Beyond all that, I leave 27 behind with a "good riddance" and welcome 28 with a cheerful "hello." This coming year will be one of hope, hard work, change, growth, and so much love. Happy birthday to me indeed!
twenty-seven
Dear friends,
It's hard to believe what my life looks like today, on this my twenty-seventh birthday.
It is not the vision I had in mind even two years ago, but it's better than I could have imagined. One reason being that I am about to enjoy the sight of Savannah's Spanish moss covered trees. My husband, the wonderful man that he is, knows that things don't have nearly the effect on my restless soul that experiences do. Every year he asks, "Do you want a thing or an experience?" and every year without fail I reply with all certainty, "An experience." The same thing happens at Christmas and at every other 'gifting' opportunity. So life as I know it is richly blessed. (Here is last year's birthday adventure)
Of course there are the pages in my life's story that I wish I could skim ahead to, and pages I wish I could skip past all together. Such is life and the fact is, I am not the writer. God is the author and perfecter of my faith... and of my story. He has a plan for where this life will lead, and though it is easier said than done, I trust in Him and in His plan. There are days when it's hard to see that plan at work, and days when it is so abundantly clear. But regardless of where my feelings are at on a given moment, I know that the faith He gives is rooted on solid ground.
I am thankful for where my twenty-seven years have taken me.
From Iowa, to Wisconsin, to Georgia, and all the visits and adventures in-between. From an insecure grade-school child, to a confident college graduate with an unbeatable spirit, to the young wife of a man twice her height and equal in sassiness. From a blond to a brunette. From a desk slave to a free-spirit. From a learner, to a better learner. From a talker to a listener. From an apartment dweller to a homeowner. From a pushover to a powerhouse.
Yet so much has remained the same. I am still a bad driver, heights and I don't bode well, mornings are still my enemy, and coffee my fuel. Cheesy breadsticks still make me salivate upon thought, and dogs still cause me to emit a gasp from the passenger seat that scares my husband half to death (though he's gotten good at seeing the dogs before me and preparing himself). I still love my routine, my long, dangly earrings, boots in fall and winter are still my favorite, and talking on the phone with my mom and sisters is still the highlight of each week. Of course, being married to the most wonderful, loving, thoughtful, and handsome husband is still my greatest pleasure.
Twenty-seven will bring with it more joy, excitement, hardship, and tears. More uncertainty, fierce love, hair dye, and lessons learned. It will challenge me to grow, push me to new heights, and remind me to be quick to forgive and to say sorry when I'm wrong. I refuse to let my humor, my outlook, and my personality age; they aren't synonymous with the years I've spent on earth.
Today, I rejoice. I thank God for another year and I ask His blessings on the next ones.
I'll raise my bottle of wine to the shores of the Atlantic and say, "cheers"... and I'll thank you, dear readers and friends, for joining with me each step of the way. You're in this too. Somehow wrapped up in my joys and messes and haphazard DIYs... and I'm grateful beyond words. You're the ones I share my cup of coffee with each morning. Though, you should know I am usually donning a large tee, messy bun, and giant glasses on our coffee dates - hope you don't mind. Thank you for sharing in my travels, marriage adventures, house renovations, and hard lessons learned. You're some of my favorite people and I know you'll be there through twenty-seven too.
Much love today and always,
the 27 year old
