two for one

i have so many ideas for blog posts rolling around in my head i don't even know where to start, what to say. there are two that i want to write one, two that i need to write on - well one that i need to and one i'd like to. but one i'll save for tomorrow.

this week was my birthday - i love birthdays. i get very excited for mine and i love celebrating others. i usually build up my expectations and am sorely disappointed. 

this year i got to experience the birthday train in all it's glory. it was quite fun! i got to go out to dinner with a very good friend c on monday, we started the tradition the first year we spend a birthday being friends together four years ago. it's so much fun. we go out, have dinner and TALK. man can we talk!!! 

then thursday my actual birthday my parents took me out for dinner and we exchanged presents and that was really nice. i was sick, actually sick all week so it was dampened by that but i really enjoyed my time with them.

then friday my old small group gathered and we had dinner and then went to a local show where my room mate opened and dana little played. that was really fun, dinner like always with those girls was hilarious. the concert was crowded but i got to catch up with some people i hadn't seen in years. 

at my the concert my best friend joined us and from the concert (one small group friend left) we went to my favorite martini bar! i love going there and always have fun. we had a goofy waiter and told funny stories, LAUGHED a lot and shared our lives with each other. I am so thankful that those friend melded together as well as they did.

saturday i woke up late, was rushed gathering things but then i usually am when i host things. my wonderful dear, loud friend n came to visit before my official birthday party saturday night. she came up and just hung out with me as we hadn't seen each other in over a year. nor talked really. but with her one can slip in without any hitches. i was reminded as to why i spent almost everyday with her one quarter as we laughed and talked and were completely honest with each other. we had dinner, had a crazy indian food experience and then the other guest arrived. it's funny, the people who made my night special are the people who i love dearly. i have one friend t, he's been at all my birthday's since we've been friends. when i think of birthday's i think of him. he came even though he's sick and should have been at home in bed. then there's n, she drove up from seattle, and i laughed with her like i haven't laughed with someone in awhile. then there's cb and db, i've walked an interesting path with cb, but i do love her and really enjoy being with her and tonight i relearned that in a good way! one of my small group ladies came which was so sweet and it reminded me why i am doing this painful thing of leading a d group each week. 

and then last but so not least is e. she's one of the only constants in my life. and she hasn't been in town for a birthday for a few years. it was pretty much wonderful to have her here tonight as well as yesterday. she leaves last, she helps clean up, she just is her consistent rock for me. when n said i could bring someone to the wedding, who else would i bring but e? i mean she may not like that i drag her places, but she lets me. and e. she wrote this blog about me and my birthday and i was really confused by it, and so she re wrote it and i want to respond to the new version, cause it's way better than the original. she wrote about some of her memories of our friendship and i wanted to respond/share mine. 

that bike ride was awful. 

skinnydipping off the dock SO much better than the beach. 

the defrost did not work in that car i got to drive! 

remind me of the steven curtis chapman song... 

i'm pretty sure i know which road you speak of, at least i think i have only one favorite. 

jesus the volleyball or something we took pictures with on that road trip... whatever happened to those pictures? did you ever see them? 

oh florida! 

to add to this wonderful list...

reading on that huge bed in that little room in fernburg

you speaking for me when things got hard with s and k

hayden

curried chicken tea sandwiches

book after book after book

mexico

jumping in lake whatcom after graduation

i could go on and on.

i'm very blessed. i'm feeling very blessed as this birthday train is now finally leaving the station. i have wonderful friends in my life and i have a good while weird family. i have friends who've become family. 

i'm newly 24. i hope this year is different. i pray this year is different. i'm happy to start this year with some very good friends.

super powers?

i've never thought about being a super hero, i mean who wouldn't want to fly, or spin really fast and go back in time, but I've always wondered about  being in the FBI or CIA or something like that. 

To have a job where you literally are in the face of danger and you're working to solve the problem, sounds thrilling, terrifying and so intriguing! To be a person who is so good at your job other people depend on you. To know that when the day is done you've made a tangible difference, as well as to have thought hard and used the brains and skills God's given me.

I don't often admit it out loud, but something like that, that's the kind of job I really want, hostage negotiator, trauma psychologist, counselor for FBI agents, part of the BAU. 

I know those dreams aren't realistic, but every other week or so, i dream a little.