HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

It was my (Jess) birthday on Thurs, July 29, and oh what a great day it was! I just love birthdays. I love the anticipation, that its my "special day" (I have yet to find someone that shares it with me), that people who love you remember its your day and want to celebrate it with you, the fun times I've had over past birthdays, presents... It's just fun. People are celebrating who God has made you to be and how long you've been here on earth - how cool!
And it's so great to think that God sent me to earth that very year, that very month, on that very day. He always knew that July 29 would be the day I would enter the world as a tiny baby girl, a month earlier than expected (even though it took 12 hours of labor - EEK!), the second daughter but third child to an expectant mother. My grandma says it was a beautiful, sunny day in July that I made my first appearance. It's crazy that we celebrate a day that we don't even remember happening (although it had to or we woulnd't be here!).
Well this past Thursday, my birthday, was a beautiful, warm (but not hot) sunny day, one just like the day I was born, or so my grandma says :). I woke up when the sun was coming up, grabbed some coffee, and spent time thanking the Lord for sending me here, and letting me walk with Him for much of my time here on this earth. I spent time reflecting on all that He's done in my lifetime, the wonderous ways He has worked, answered prayers, molded and shaped me, the people that have come, gone, or stayed around in my life. Tt was a special time with the Lord.
After that I had to go to work (sidenote : besides for working up at Camp Harvest for a couple of summers, i have never had to work or go to school on my birthday! so this was a first) but it was fun. The ladies of the office got doughnuts on behalf of my birthday; my boss brought me a carmel frapp and giftcard from starbucks; I had 2 visitors stop by work (a best friend and my mother-in-law); I recieved beautiful purple flowers; I was taken out to lunch by my father-in-law - sushi = YUM; I got birthday phone calls, cards, and facebook messages; Ben and I went kayaking down a river for about an hour and a half after work, just us; and then we met up with some great friends for ice cream at Coldstone (cake batter + brownie + cookie dough = amazing) it was truly a great day.
I am truly thankful and blessed for the people that God has allowed me to know and to love throughout my life so far. My birthday was definitely a day that brought many reminders of God's blessings, goodness, and grace to my life. And I am thankful for that!!

(i wish i had some pictures of my fun birthday, but sadly, i do not!)