Today I turn 27.

I have had one of the best birthdays, and have been reminded of how incredibly blessed and fortunate I am to have so many people in my life who love me dearly… even when I fall short.

I will write more about the weekend later… Right now, here are the top 27 things from the last year (in chronological order):

1. Two of my best friends getting engaged 30 seconds after the the ball dropped on New Years. 
2. My bff marrying the man of her dreams, and getting to stand up in her wedding with her.
3. My best friends and roomie surprising me for my 26th birthday.
4. My little brother showing up for my 26th birthday with a dozen roses from him and my older brother.
5. Spending Easter with my best friend from college and his wife.
6. Getting to surprise my older brother for his birthday.
7. A friend moving to DC and becoming a close friend.
8. A new roomie moving into the house.
9. The wedding of a great friend.
10. My two best friends getting married.. and spending the weekend with so many close friends.
11. Throwing my parents a 30th anniversary party and seeing everyone.
12. The Bachata congress here in DC with such a wonderful friend. 
13. Lake and beach days.
14. Helping my bff and her husband move.
15. Visiting my cousin in California.
16. Learning to Paddle board.
17. Finally letting God take control of my frustrating work situation.
18. Finding stability and peace internally for the first time in two years.
19. Surviving the first year of Grad school.
20. Reconnecting with an old college friend.
21. Making Thanksgiving dinner with a my wonderful friend.
22. Letting God use others teach me about my value and worth.
23. Going to Philly with one of my amazing friends to dance and spend time together.
24. Driving to MI and back to DC with my roomie.
25. An old roomie/sister getting engaged.
26. Christmas.
27. Surviving 2011 officially when the ball dropped and it was 2012.

Some of these are obviously a little tongue and cheek, a few I am well aware make no sense unless you lived through those moments with me, and others are amusing, but completely true to how I feel.

26 was a really difficult year for me (as was 25), but I am incredibly hopeful about this year. I am amazed at the things God is teaching me already in this year, and I am so excited for what is to come (and filled with a little Holy trepidation if things continue to go the way they are currently).

Thank you to the friends and family:
That have stood by me, listened to me vent, ramble, cry, yell, laugh, and for the times you sat next to me in total silence because the were just no words. Thank you for the cooked foods, the movie nights, the galavanting around, the trips, and the memories we built this year. Thank you for sticking through the really difficult times, and for all the times you were more gracious than I deserved, and chose to love me despite my shortcomings and flaws. Thank you for your patience as I learned how to be patient. Thank you for your compassion as I learned what true compassion meant. Thank you for all the times you sought me out because I was unable to look beyond my own pain. Thank you for all of the hugs, dances, snuggles, running, goofing around, and for all the talking around the dinner table. Thank you for all of the phone conversations, for telling me when I was wrong, for listening to me when I needed to bounce my ideas and thoughts off of someone, and for praying for me whether I asked you to or not. Thank you for encouraging me more each day to draw closer to the Lord, and for all of the times you were on your knees on my behalf. Thank you for the unconditional love and forgiveness that I do not deserve, and for picking me up when I was unable to get up. Thank you for the faith you shared with me and for the confidence in our Savior when I was doubting. Thank you for sticking by me when it would have been much easier to walk away.

To my friends and family, I do not deserve you, but I simply cannot express how thankful and humbled I am that you are in my life. You show me Christ in new ways every day, and words simply cannot express how much each one of you mean to me. Thank you is not enough, but thank you is all I have.