29 for the first time

Well, folks, here's to the big 29. It feels sort of like the closing of an era. I've been reflecting on what wonderful years my 20's have been. I've had the wonderful opportunity more recently to be able to mentor a couple of young women, which has given me a great opportunity to really reflect on how I've grown as a person. I am about to embark on a journey that will likely humble me, knock off my roughest edges, and make me wonder if I was mature at all before this began, but it is a good feeling to reflect on life and see how God has taught me and stretched me and blessed me.

So since I can't have any alcohol to toast to the last birthday of my 20's, how about a picture toast?



This is the day that my father delivered me in a closet. That's the literal truth... My dad was working at Valley Medical Center in Fresno, and because I was a "bargain baby" and there was no room in the inn, they cleaned out a supply closet for me to be born in. My dad writes an email to me almost every year that talks about how he went home late that night while my mom slept and just sat in the dark and thanked God for me. I swear, it makes me cry every time.



Here I'm probably age three or four. Do I look like my dad or what?? It's that square, Danish smile.



Okay, take a look at those HUGE eyes! My sister says they used to scare her, and called them "cow eyes." I think my head grew later and they started to fit a little better.



This was one of the best days of my whole life until my wedding day. I remember feeling like this day belonged to my whole family. None of my grandparents, aunts or uncles or cousins have graduated from college, so I felt that this was something my family sort of owned together.


This was the only day so far that topped my graduation. To finally walk down the aisle on my father's arm and belong to my best friend for the rest of our lives... to put it in Steve's words, "I was overwhelmed with God's goodness to me."

So here's to almost 3 decades of God's faithfulness!