Birthday

My birthday this year was a land mark of sorts. I have to start by telling you about last year for you to fully understand. When I was living in Cambodia I felt that God was calling me to take a journey alone, something I had never done before. So with His provision of money I booked a flight to Beijing to spend a week in China. I had been to Beijing before and vowed I would be back. It was a thrilling experience for me for a couple reasons. I had never traveled on a vacation alone before and my friend Ines supported me by telling me that some journey's are for your soul. (Very wise words.) I was also going to be stretched because I was going to have to meet people every day, and be alone on my birthday...but my birthday was going to be great. (this is what I told myself)

On my birthday I have never felt as loved in my life by God as I did last year. I got to wear jeans and a sweatshirt (which is a big deal for someone who LOVES fall and has been in living in the land of eternal summer all year), eat a peach (they don't have those in Cambodia), bought a bracelet with little silver apples and purple pearls on it, got to visit a tea house (you have no idea how thrilled I was the entire time we sat sipping tea in our little cups!), and I stood on the Great Wall of China eating M & M's (another treat) and reading my Bible. As I stood looking over the breath taking view I knew that this next year was going to be amazing. I couldn't imagine how it couldn't be with a jump start like this. I couldn't wait to see how the year was going to play out.

So the year followed as such:

1. Visit Thailand

2. Run a half marathon around ancient temples

3. Get home in time for Christmas

4. Meet Dan

5. Run a half marathon in Disney

6. Move in with a great room mate

7. Find myself falling in love with Dan

8. Get to spend time with friends and catch up after a year of being gone

9. Plan and surprise my dad for his birthday

10. Get engaged.

11. Buy my wedding dress :)
12. Love every heart breaking minute as a counselor
13. Get to return to Cambodia to see friends
14. Spend time with family (who I missed like crazy)
15. Go Camping
16. Watch Football!
17. Find myself thrilled with the thought of getting married.

What a year...and even though I knew, as I stood on the Great Wall, that other birthday's wouldn't be able to live up to it I didn't want to trade that moment for anything in the world. It was a moment of triumph in my soul, of discovering the healing that God was doing in my heart and life, and finding out that I can do and be more than I ever thought I could be. I found me.

So this year...I was a little sad the night before. How do you say good bye to such an amazing year? I had been changed. So for this year I slept in, had lunch with my roommate, went shopping alone and had a great conversation with God thanking Him for this past year, and than had dinner and cake with the love of my life. Maybe it wasn't like last year, but I didn't need the Great Wall this year. I just needed to feel loved by the people who love me. Last year was about going at it alone; this year and all the years to come are about living life with others.