I was going to write a mushy, sentimental post about female friendships...
And then I read this. CherryApple Art beat me to it, and really?
I can't say it any better.
Those two incredible, gorgeous, faith-filled, creative women are two of the best friends one could ever hope to have, and they happen to be mine.
However, I do need to add something.
TTC fare: $3.00
Winners gift card: $45.00
tall skinny extra-hot white chocolate mocha latte: $3.95
purple and yellow balloons in the middle of a crowded Starbucks: priceless
Thank you ever-so-much, L., for continuing to make every birthday special.
And for deciding against asking everyone in the place to sing to me.
These three ladies are simultaneously my rocks and my soft places to fall.
Thank God for friendships that grow, change, blossom and bloom, season after season, getting better and stronger and deeper with age.
Here's to decades more.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
birthday musings
Believe it or not, I turn 26 today. Shocking.
There are so many things I could tell you, so much I could say about today, about this birthday, about this year and this time and this age.
I could tell you that once upon a time, 26 was a scary age to consider.
Closer to 30 than 20. Closer to settled-down boredom.
Closer to having to have things all figured out.
I could tell you that in another, married life, 26 was the age at which I had discussed the likelihood of becoming pregnant and having a baby. How crazy that seems now, and how utterly different my life would have had to be these last five years in order for that to be feasible or desirable. It's neither feasible nor desirable in this moment, and for that I am unspeakably glad.
I could tell you that I would never have dreamed I would have or could have written the music that is on the album I have just finished recording. Now fully mixed, it is being mastered as I type this, with a release date set for early next year and an upcoming CD release party that is being completely sponsored by my company. I am unceasingly grateful for the journey that has brought me to this point; incredibly proud of the songs that have emerged as a result.
I could tell you that I know myself better at 26 than I think I might ever have known myself had I not lived through the last five years. I don't have things all figured out. I'm not exactly sure what comes next in a lot of ways; in fact, I'm taking a giant leap in the new year and leaving my job to fully pursue my passions. What I do know is that I'm braver, I'm more courageous, than I ever have been. I'm blissfully happy. I'm unconditionally loved. I'm willing to take risks, to show grit and determination and tenacity in ways I wouldn't have thought possible.
Truth be told? I'm excited to be 26. I feel it's less terrifying to be 26 and living my life, this story. the good, the bad and the downright ugly, than it was when I was younger. I feel like people will take me more seriously than they have before, being over that mid-twenties hump (and believe me, I've wished that since I was about 16 years old). I feel as though I'm really, genuinely coming into my own.
It's been a simply lovely day. Including the many sweet and totally impersonal facebook wall posts from people I haven't spoken to in literally years - while they feel good, sure, they really don't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things! - it's been lovely from the get-go. J. woke me with a kiss. My mom and dad called me before 7am to sing Happy Birthday (in harmony no less) and my first few texts and calls of the day were from my sisters, brother and sister-in-law. I am blessed to have such a great family, not to mention my wonderful, supportive and loving friends, whose well-wishes have been pouring in all day. It's amazing how loved and appreciated a birthday can make you feel.
It's a quiet birthday, this year, and for that I'm glad. I'm exhausted. It's been a very long last couple of weeks, and so I'm grateful just to mark it in a simple and private way. Coffee with the lovely L. this early evening. Later, it's dinner with my parents while J. plays ball hockey; hanging out with my sisters; then late-night cake with my parents, my siblings, and J. to finish a perfect day. Then dinner with two of my closest ladies, R. and E., tomorrow: a relaxed girls night likely consisting of spring rolls and lots of cups of tea, laughter and gut-spilling secrets.
I want to get dressed up, go out for martinis and drink in the crisp fall air, certainly. Next week, maybe. Today, not so much. Today, I want to quietly celebrate the joy of being exactly where I am supposed to be at this stage in my life. I want to revel in the magic of having found footholds again, of having scaled mountains that once loomed menacingly in front of me. I want to bask in the grace of knowing that I am loved, I am precious, and I am on the cusp of new beginnings. In a lot of ways, I know what's up ahead, what's coming. I'm excited to watch memorable things happen.
Because that's what I feel about this year.
This year, the year I am 26 years old, will be a memorable one.
Wait and see.
You saw me broken, you saw me battered
You saw me filthy, you saw me shattered
You saw me wicked, you saw me lying
You saw me failing, you saw me trying
You saw me angry, you saw me jealous
You saw me prideful, you saw me selfish
You saw me wander, you saw me lustful
You saw me striving, worshipping idols
You said, I want her, I love her
She's the one for me
I choose her, I know her
My blood has set her free
She is my true love
Bring her to me
Now she's always by his side
She stays in his arms day and night
Out of the cage
Out of the shame
Into the light
She's finding her beauty
She's finding her grace
She's finding her whole heart
She's showing her face
In the light
Into The Light,
Laura Woodley
There are so many things I could tell you, so much I could say about today, about this birthday, about this year and this time and this age.
I could tell you that once upon a time, 26 was a scary age to consider.
Closer to 30 than 20. Closer to settled-down boredom.
Closer to having to have things all figured out.
I could tell you that in another, married life, 26 was the age at which I had discussed the likelihood of becoming pregnant and having a baby. How crazy that seems now, and how utterly different my life would have had to be these last five years in order for that to be feasible or desirable. It's neither feasible nor desirable in this moment, and for that I am unspeakably glad.
I could tell you that I would never have dreamed I would have or could have written the music that is on the album I have just finished recording. Now fully mixed, it is being mastered as I type this, with a release date set for early next year and an upcoming CD release party that is being completely sponsored by my company. I am unceasingly grateful for the journey that has brought me to this point; incredibly proud of the songs that have emerged as a result.
I could tell you that I know myself better at 26 than I think I might ever have known myself had I not lived through the last five years. I don't have things all figured out. I'm not exactly sure what comes next in a lot of ways; in fact, I'm taking a giant leap in the new year and leaving my job to fully pursue my passions. What I do know is that I'm braver, I'm more courageous, than I ever have been. I'm blissfully happy. I'm unconditionally loved. I'm willing to take risks, to show grit and determination and tenacity in ways I wouldn't have thought possible.
Truth be told? I'm excited to be 26. I feel it's less terrifying to be 26 and living my life, this story. the good, the bad and the downright ugly, than it was when I was younger. I feel like people will take me more seriously than they have before, being over that mid-twenties hump (and believe me, I've wished that since I was about 16 years old). I feel as though I'm really, genuinely coming into my own.
It's been a simply lovely day. Including the many sweet and totally impersonal facebook wall posts from people I haven't spoken to in literally years - while they feel good, sure, they really don't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things! - it's been lovely from the get-go. J. woke me with a kiss. My mom and dad called me before 7am to sing Happy Birthday (in harmony no less) and my first few texts and calls of the day were from my sisters, brother and sister-in-law. I am blessed to have such a great family, not to mention my wonderful, supportive and loving friends, whose well-wishes have been pouring in all day. It's amazing how loved and appreciated a birthday can make you feel.
It's a quiet birthday, this year, and for that I'm glad. I'm exhausted. It's been a very long last couple of weeks, and so I'm grateful just to mark it in a simple and private way. Coffee with the lovely L. this early evening. Later, it's dinner with my parents while J. plays ball hockey; hanging out with my sisters; then late-night cake with my parents, my siblings, and J. to finish a perfect day. Then dinner with two of my closest ladies, R. and E., tomorrow: a relaxed girls night likely consisting of spring rolls and lots of cups of tea, laughter and gut-spilling secrets.
I want to get dressed up, go out for martinis and drink in the crisp fall air, certainly. Next week, maybe. Today, not so much. Today, I want to quietly celebrate the joy of being exactly where I am supposed to be at this stage in my life. I want to revel in the magic of having found footholds again, of having scaled mountains that once loomed menacingly in front of me. I want to bask in the grace of knowing that I am loved, I am precious, and I am on the cusp of new beginnings. In a lot of ways, I know what's up ahead, what's coming. I'm excited to watch memorable things happen.
Because that's what I feel about this year.
This year, the year I am 26 years old, will be a memorable one.
Wait and see.
You saw me broken, you saw me battered
You saw me filthy, you saw me shattered
You saw me wicked, you saw me lying
You saw me failing, you saw me trying
You saw me angry, you saw me jealous
You saw me prideful, you saw me selfish
You saw me wander, you saw me lustful
You saw me striving, worshipping idols
You said, I want her, I love her
She's the one for me
I choose her, I know her
My blood has set her free
She is my true love
Bring her to me
Now she's always by his side
She stays in his arms day and night
Out of the cage
Out of the shame
Into the light
She's finding her beauty
She's finding her grace
She's finding her whole heart
She's showing her face
In the light
Into The Light,
Laura Woodley
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