there have been cards in the mail, good friends, and LOTS of desserts this week! my facebook wall was flooded with warm wishes and my phone lit up with texts and phone calls all day. this past wednesday was my 27th birthday (although i might not admit that out loud… 27 is a scary number!) and man oh man, i have some pretty incredible people in my life who know how to make a girl feel loved! I got to spend time this week with some of my favorite people in the world, and did i mention there were yummy desserts?! it has been a great week, to say the least :)
As I was praying earlier this week I was realizing just how much this past year had taught me. I did a year recap back in January for some of the biggest events of what 26 brought me, and I think its safe to say that 26 was a year full of growth, change, and being drawn closer to the Lord than ever before, which just leaves me so excited for what 27 will hold. Now that I have firm roots here in this place, its sweet to see the Lord deepening them and really growing me and my relationships here. I can only imagine what this next year will bring, and while I’m definitely in NO rush to add one more candle to that cake, I am very excited to see what He has in store for this next year :) Here are a few little snapshots of this birthday week:
cards in the mail are one of my favorite things! an intentional, hand written note is guaranteed to make my day every time :) 
on Monday I got to go with this little friend and her family to see Disney on Ice, and i loved how her face lit up seeing the show! this was a big fun surprise for Shelby before her baby sister comes along in another couple of months, so while this technically wasn’t part of the birthday festivities, i’m counting it as one anyway :) 
even though most of the characters were brand new to her, she was still so excited to see them all! 
Wednesday night was dinner and cheesecake with two of my dearest friends Anna and Katie, and then last night I was told to show up at a restaurant at 7:30, and there was a table full of friends waiting to celebrate with me, organized completely by my sweet friend Danielle :) like i said, i’ve got some pretty wonderful people in my life :)
The other HUGE blessing this week has been reading all of the Beloved stories that you all have submitted this week! I don’t even think I realized what I had gotten myself in to when I offered this give away; your stories were filled with heart, sacrifice, trials, joy, devotion, and redemption, and it was truly incredible to read each and every one. I can never say thank you enough for sharing your stories with me! There is a response coming to each of you that submitted an entry, and I cannot WAIT to get the winning couple in front of my camera and share their story with you! :) I don’t want to give away their story quite yet, but will share it with their photos… but man oh man, its an incredible story and testimony! so excited to share it!
Have a great weekend! Happy Friday!