So, I’ve decided to keep a running list of all of the things
that have made my 30th birthday the best one possible. Although I am posting this at the end of my
birthday, know that I’ve been adding to this list as things have happened. Love to you all. Thanks for making my day great!
1.) A tremendous birthday weekend that was one for the record
books. A lot of things were crossed off
my “30 Before 30” list, and I’ll write more about that later. Let just say it involved Indoor Skydiving and
Strawberry shortcake made out of SCONES!
Seriously…
2.) A kiss on the forehead and a whispered “Happy Birthday” from
my wonderful husband as he left super early to head to Easter Pageant. This guys serves the Lord, our family,
students and the University more than anyone I know.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25)
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:28)
These scriptures above are lived out daily in our home and I
couldn’t be more grateful. I have
learned more about the gift of service through this guy than anyone else. And I have a HUGE crush on him and he’s the
most handsome guy I know… that dimple though!
3.) Waking up to texts from family and friends with sweet words
of encouragement.
4.) Daddy using celebration emojis in my birthday text. Seriously though… so cute.
5.) Getting a sleepy “Happy Birthday Momma” from my #1 little
guy. MELT.MY.HEART.
6.) Jude singing me his rendition of Happy Birthday. HBD is his absolute favorite song and we sing
it 249 times a day, but when it’s someone’s actual birthday, he makes up his
own version… I’m looking forward to the guitar and drum and microphone version
I’ll get when we get home tonight. Cause
it’s coming… (EDIT: It didn’t happen.
Crazy, flailing, fit throwing happened.)
7.) 94.7 holding it down for my birthday by playing “Pumped up
Kicks” on my 5 minute drive to drop Jude off… I know it’s a horrible song, but
guys, that’s my JAM! Especially when there’s no kid in the car and I can blast
it.
8.) Birthday donuts and coffee to start off the day.
9.) Walking in to a decorated office with chocolates waiting on
my desk from my sweet interns… The way to a girls heart is through Reese’s and
Mr. Goodbar.
10.) BIRTHDAY COUPONS!
11.) Sweet messages from family and friends (new and old).
12.) Free birthday lunch courtesy of Schlotzsky’s. Small original sans olives and onions is
where it’s at.
13.) Finishing out our Ferrier team at 7 people! Thank the Lord for adding a few in at the
buzzer! So excited for everyone to meet
and see our girls.
14.) Purchasing airfare for our Ferrier trip at the LOWEST price
I have ever seen. Roundtrip tickets to
and from Cap Haitien for $850! $1800 is
the lowest price for a trip I have ever taken… especially to Ferrier. Praise the Lord for the new American flights
in and outta there! No more 30 seat
plane where you have to get weighed to determine where you sit on the
plane. Haleluj!
15.) This Facebook message from my daddy. There have never been truer words. Best April Fools joke ever!
16.) Continuing to work on our VBS material for this summer that
is about God’s power to break through any limits we place on ourselves. This is not only a challenge to come up with
but is completely convicting in my lack of faith in His ability and desire to
transcend my abilities, circumstances, what’s popular and what’s expected… Let
it be.
17.) My 90’s Pandora station
18.) Riding around with Jude and my little buddy Elijah to give
me just a taste of life with a baby and toddler. Two car seats are nothing to play around
with. {No, this is not an announcement. Or an April Fools joke}
19.) Running home and seeing the most beautiful bouquet of
flowers on my table picked out by my hottie of a husband and sweetheart of a
son.
20.) Birthday messages from Momma. Today should be HER day. 9 months of carrying me around, tolerating
all of the wonderful pregnancy woes, and enduring the pain of bringing me into
the world. Not to mention the 30 years
that she has mothered me so well and in doing so has shown me what being a
fantastic mother looks like. So thankful
for her. Love you Momma.
21.) Surprise phone calls
22.) Surprise birthday bagels from my interns. Sugar fried
bread. ‘Nuff said.
23.) Being able to take 32 kids to Easter Pageant to see the
story of Christ acted out before their eyes.
For a lot of these littles, this is the first time that the gospel
becomes clear to them. What a better way
to spend my 30th than by sharing the message of Christ. On a day that I am so aware of all the
opportunities God has given me these past 30 years, what a present it is to be
able to tell kiddos about the same God that has been drawing their hearts to
His.
24.) Hearing 32 kids sing me Happy Birthday right before Pageant
started. And asking me if I’m 100… What
a treat!
25.) Questions from tiny people like “Who is Jesus”, “Why is he
dying”, and “Are they all friends with Jesus again?” Nothing like child-like faith to remind you
to truly SEE the sacrifice.
26.) Selfless volunteers who spent an afternoon with me in the
midst of crazy in order to do their part of serving the Lord. We had drivers, teachers, seat savers,
bathroom runners, and lots of College Buddies that made the Easter Pageant
event a possibility!
27.) Coworkers who dropped everything to reign in the crazy with
me. So thankful for a godly team of
people who love the Lord and want to share the gospel with our community.
28.) Finishing off two boxes of peeps from Bekah!
29.) Whataburger’s Chicken Strip Meal with a Root Beer
30.) Vegging with my main squeeze after an exhaustingly beautiful
day of life and ministry. We are so
lucky.
Any who, just wanted to let you guys in on a little taste of
the Lord’s goodness in my life. Thank
you for all the sweet texts, messages, and conversations today. You all have helped make the beginning of my
30’s awesome. Yall are the best!
And, feel free to keep up the love.
Presents are still being accepted, indefinitely.
Presents are still being accepted, indefinitely.
