Ginger Turns 30!

Happy Birthday, Ginger!

Guess how many posts there have been so far? 46. Which makes mine, post 47! Ahh yeah! I have so enjoyed putting this blog together for you. Actually, I guess everyone else put it together, but it has been fun reading them. I hope you have felt loved and encouraged over the past 30 days. And it doesn't stop with just the online version, Lauren gave me a great idea to use Blurb to turn this blog into a book so you can sit down and read it in a way that you probably like better...on paper!

I was thinking about the first birthday that I knew you and how we celebrated it...21 years old and we got engaged at Lake Louise! Seems like the last nine and a half years have gone by both fast and slow at times. I am so glad we are together!

When we were in California earlier this year we stopped at Laguna Beach Books and I sneakily bought you a birthday card without you knowing (I think). I know how much you love cards so I think you are going to love this one.

You are such a gardener of the soul, more than anyone else that I know. Your desire for growth is inspiring and makes me want to be a better best friend to you. And I was so inspired by the idea of this card and the phrase "She is You" that I just had to write and record a song. So to end off this surprise blog, here is one last surprise... click play to listen!



She is You

She loves fruit smoothies, lists, reading books and words
She loves stuffed little bunnies, and small windowsill birds
She loves her hoodie, and she hearts the library too

She loves the names she picked, and the two boys who got them
She loves to eat her veggies, and tend them in the garden
She loves to run outside, and every shade of blue

She is you, she is my only one, she is you
She is you, when all is said and done, she is you

She's a deep well of thoughts, and for honesty she is known
She makes me better than I, could ever be alone
I can't believe this girl, she wants to be with me too

She is you, she is my only one, she is you
She is you, when all is said and done, she is you

She wants to be free
She's getting closer I see
Let's spend your next thirty years
With lots of laughter and tears
I love you

She is you, she is my only one, she is you
She is you, when all is said and done, she is you

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For Ginger, on your birthday--

A few thoughts on Thirty:

Age is, of course, one of the most arbitrary ways of measuring a person. I have friends in their sixties who continually teach me about discovery and possibility, and friends in their young twenties who are as crotchety and set in their ways as Archie Bunker. Age, like numbers on a scale and letters on a report card, tells us very little of who we are. You decide every year exactly how young and how old you want to be. Choose to be very young, believing that all the world is new and possible, and very old, believing that patience, endurance, and faithfulness are more important than unlined skin.

On the topic of tattoos, I have one from high school--a Chinese symbol for love, because at that time, I was unlearning almost everything I'd been told about religion, and was left with a deep belief in love. And then a vine in college, because in addition to my belief in love, I began to believe in growth, and as I became once again over time a person of religion, love and growth have remained cornerstones of my faith. If I were to get another, which I might, I'd like an anchor, because over the last three years, the anchor has come to remind me that while it seems like everything is changing, some things hold fast: faith, family, love, forgiveness. I met a woman in Houston recently with a killer anchor tattoo just below her collarbones, practically over her heart, and am now filled with envy. We'll see.

Happy Birthday to you. I spent my thirtieth with my family and dearest friends. I felt blessed and lucky to see each of their faces on that day, and that their presence in my life was and is one of God's greatest gifts to me. My prayer is that on your birthday you feel just exactly the same way.

Love and cake--

Shauna

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Dearest Ginger,

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Ambassador camp!!! When I think about our childhood summers - that is what comes to mind. It was just this time of year 22 summers ago - we had our first sleep over camp experience at Lake Waccamaw. Do you remember anything about our very first week? It does seem that the 8 summers we attended seem to run together. Here are some of things that I remember of the fun, simple, and carefree times we had there as kids:

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Ginger,
When I thought about writing this note to you two words came to mind: babies and food. When we first met you guys Bauer was still really just a baby, and Silas was our new baby. I remember you all were at our house for a meal, which of course included a big green salad, which led to a discussion of Annie's Naturals dressings, and Dr. Fuhrman and Eat to Live, and so on. It was fun to find friends who were also interested in healthy eating and good food.

Since then we've talked and emailed plenty about the babies and how they've grown and what to feed them. We've exchanged recipes and we've each had another baby boy. Ginger, I appreciate your honest searching and desire to follow after God and live a life that honors Him and blesses the people around you. I pray that God will continue to guide you and strengthen you in this season of mothering little ones. I'm thankful for our friendship and I hope we can continue to encourage one another as we each navigate our paths in life.

I thought I'd pass along this recipe for the dish that I made for your family just after Cash was born and while I was waiting for Isaac to arrive. We used to call this "Fooled Millie Chili" because the first time she ate it she commented on how much she liked the meat in it. But now that she's older we just call it Vegetarian Chili. Creative, huh? :)

Vegetarian Chili

1/2 cup dry black beans
1/2 cup dry kidney beans
1/2 cup dry great northern beans
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 tsp dried basil
2 teaspoons mustard
1 can corn
1 cup diced or shredded zucchini, optional
salt and pepper to taste

Soak beans overnight. Drain beans, then cover with water and cook in a large pot for about an hour. Drain beans, and in the same pot saute the green pepper, onion and garlic in a little bit of water or olive oil until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans back to the pot along with the broth, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, basil and mustard. Allow to simmer for about another hour, until beans are tender. Near the end of the cooking time, add the corn and zucchini (if using), and season with salt and pepper.

Hopefully the above recipe turns out a good result! I probably vary it slightly based on what's on hand nearly every time I make it, so it's definitely flexible. You can substitute canned beans to simplify it. I feel like the vegetable broth is key. I get Celifibr Vegetable Medley bouillon cubes from Fruitful Yield, which make a really good vegetable broth. You could use any vegetable broth you like, though.

I'll leave you with a scripture and a quote:

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FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, AND MILK IN MUGS

i came to clemson in january of 1997 and assume that i met you soon after.
i believe that i was introduced to you at a clemson fca meeting in tillman.
if my memory serves me correct, you were wearing the signature braids and a
sweet, southern smile. as i reflect on the years since then and my most
vivid memories of you, i am fairly certain that some of my favorites are
seemingly insignificant and that you may not even remember most of
them...but they are my favorites none the less.

i remember listening to you and chad (who would later become my husband)
give a wednesday night bible study lesson at dcf on trials. i remember a.)
being jealous that you were getting to sit next to chad :) and b.) you
saying that a trial was a "joy stealer". to this day, when i think about
trials and hardships, i think of it in terms of something attempting to
steal my joy. i love that definition. you were always able to shine a
light on scripture and make me see something in a way that i had never seen
it before.

i remember coming to hang out in your dorm room and looking at your art box
that held all of your neatly placed markers. i remember thinking..."she's
one organized individual!" i remember looking at your binder filled with
all the magazine ads that you liked, which were neatly tucked into clear
sleeves and thinking how simply creative you were. i remember sitting on
some sort of couch in your room and having mugs of cold milk...your most
treasured beverage...and thinking that having it in a mug really did make it
taste better. i still love to have my milk in a mug.

i remember several things about you from my wedding day. i remember that
you did not have a barrette for your hair, so you sent some of the boys to
the mall to get you one. i remember you quietly watching me put on my eye
shadow in the mirror in the bridal suite. i remember asking you to pray as
the wedding was starting before we all went downstairs to enter. i can't
remember exactly what you prayed, but i remember the calm that came over me
at that moment that lasted through the rest of the evening. i remember you
and tj dancing for the first time at the reception to lady in red and i LOVE
that it is captured on our wedding video.

i remember when we came to charleston for the xpansion beach retreat and you
and tj came in right after getting engaged. i remember sitting on the floor
and you coming over, sitting down and showing me the ring to tell me what
had just happened. i remember the ring being too big, but you made tj let
you wear it anyway because you wanted him to know that you "were
responsible." i remember being too close to my due date with colton to be
able to travel to your wedding and how disappointed i was. the oversized,
never worn bridesmaid's dress still hangs in my closet with all the others.

happy 30th birthday ginger. i hope that you feel as celebrated as you truly
are!!

love and all the best wishes to you,
mindy

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Gingersnap.....

Time is going by so fast, I thought I missed the window to blog for you! I've been thinking about what to write. I don't have a tattoo...it just seems to painful (: I don't really cook, so I am not sure I should share a recipe (: and I am not sure of a specific story I should remind you of....however, I have some random thoughts that pop into my head when I think of you: I love your handwriting. It is so neat, precise, and inviting. It is always makes me a little more peaceful when I see it. You are incredibly thoughtful...like the Cleo books you sent for my girl! You made some yummy Gingersnap cookies once that I insisted you give me the recipe for and I have yet to make them...maybe I will in honor of your bday (: The gift cards to Fazolis for those strawberry frozen drinks were fabulous (: (gosh that was a hundred years ago). I love your positive energy and infectious smile. It was a pleasure to work with you and get to know you at CK. I miss getting to hang out with you and meeting you at Planet Smoothie when there was a free moment. Well...I hear my munchkin waking up and it is time to start the day. I am sure you will have a wonderful 30th birthday and hopefully I will be able to see you sooner than later!

I love ya Gingersnap!
Keri

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I agree with the other bloggers, Ginger is inspirational, fun, sweet, caring and much more. I'm a new friend and grateful for it. I've enjoyed our tea/coffee times, getting to know, love and appreciate you more and more. Let's keep it up. Now, as for turning 30, I simply don't believe it. You're barely 22, I just know it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! (and what a great hubby to put this together!) :)

Love, Debi Corrigan

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Happy 30th Birthday, Ginger!

It seems like just yesterday when you were visiting me and Granddaddy in Charlotte. We did lots of fun things together. Do you remember going to Discovery Place? You and Holly always wanted to go there when you came to stay with me. And Frankie would come over from next door to eat popsicles with you. I wonder what he is doing now? I would always make sure to have the Jello fudgsicles that you liked. I loved having you come visit me when your momma had to work in Charlotte. You used to think my name was "Grandmommie in Charlotte" because that's what your momma would always say - "we're going to visit Grandmommie in Charlotte!!" You used to laugh at me because I would get up in the middle of the night and nibble on my peanut butter sandwich - do you remember that? I'm really glad you and Bauer came to stay with me winter before last - that's when you told us you were pregnant with Cash. It was exciting to be one of the first to hear your news. 30 years seems like a long time to you, but it seems like just yesterday to me. I hope you had fun at the beach - I will always remember all the fun times we had with you and Holly and Zach playing in the sand and the waves and looking for shells and shark's teeth.

I love you, Ginger!

Love,
Grandmomma

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"Ginger"

Growing

Green

Graceful in motherhood…now

Generous

Gentle but firm with her boys

Great fit with who TJ is and is growing to be

Gravitating toward light, beauty, and all that speaks to her soul

Grasping the knowledge that the one, true, triune God is deeply, passionately consumed and consuming with love for her, about her, around her, over her, beside her, and into the depths of who she truly is

Ginger, I am so glad to have known you, and to be able to continue to know you, as you become MORE you. You have really blossomed into an amazing mother, wife, and woman; someone who truly seeks to live abundantly in the life He has given you. I know you have struggled (as we all do) with the mantle of motherhood, but wow – you have really allowed His grace to step in and speak to your heart. I cannot even believe at times what a new creation He is making you. I wanted to do a cute, witty, funny post – but I realized that doesn’t fit our relationship. Our relationship has been forged on our husbands’ connection, and on our joint membership in the motherhood club. So, I just wanted you to know that I have seen and am seeing how you have relaxed into your calling – how you are truly seeing it as your calling. You inspire me to pursue my own calling as wife and mother with greater thoughtfulness, care, and excitement. You are an encouragement, and that is a gift. My prayer for your next 30 years is that you will live life more deeply, experience love more fully, and embrace who you are becoming with greater zeal and fervor, holding tight to the magnificent I AM. I hope your 30th is your most joyful birthday yet!

Much love,
Shannon

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Who can forget New York City, July 2007 - granola bars, newspapers, gum, fruit stands, interns, PBJs (that John ate), Big Shawn's blisters, The Father's Heart, the homeless, prayer walk at the UN, Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Times Square, Central Park, Yankees game...and did I mention the interns?! Oh, the memories! We had a GREAT time and will never forget that trip with you & TJ!Other fun things I think of when I think of you: small group and the many, many thoughtful & insightful things you shared, the way you care for others, honesty, lists, calendars, books, vegetarian meals, white Clark's shoes, American Eagle hoodie (and the time you lost it and then found another one online), Cookie Dough, blogging, bananas, Anne Lamott, MealBaby, Vitality, smoothies & traveling.

Happy 30th Birthday, Ginger! You have SO much to be proud of and thankful for on your 30th Birthday - most of all, 2 beautiful boys and a husband who loves you so much! Thank you for being you and for your friendship in my life! Here's to another 30 great years!

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My Dearest Ginger,
I wonder which day during the countdown you will read this letter!!?? What an amazing gift that TJ has created! Sooooo CREATIVE ... I know I shouldn't expect any less from the two of you and yet you both continue to BLOW ME AWAY with your ideas and creations!!!

I have been so incredibly blessed by your friendship. What a priveIedge and honor it is to know you and share this journey called life with you and your family!! I'll never forget how we met....being told from Kate Osborn that this woman named Ginger, her husband TJ and their son, Bauer had just moved here from Florida. Kate had this feeling that you and would just click. Two days later, Nico and I walked into Kindermusik, I looked at you and my gut just told me to say it...."Are you Ginger??"....and there you were, my new friend...my most recent gift from God! My friend who had a son just 5 weeks older than mine, a friend who understood the adjustments a family makes during the 1st year after your 1st child, a friend who needed a new friend as much as I did, a friend who understood what it was like to be a brand new stay at home mom.......in case you ever wondered, God lead you to Naperville for a reason!!!

Our friendship has flourished and after all the time we've spent together, I'll still never have enough of you!!! I love your curiousity, your sincere desire to really know people and know them well. I love your appreciation for the simple things in life, your passion, your creativity, your generosity, your gentle heart and gentle ways. I love the way you accept me and so many other people, no matter how different our ways or views or lives are....I always feel accepted by you. And while we're on the topic....your LOYALTY....I have never known anyone to have as many friends as you have. You maintain friendships cross country, across state lines, across cities and streets.....in case you ever wondered, God created you for a reason!!!

I am so grateful for our 3 years together and look forward to many, many more!!!

Happy 30th birthday my beautiful friend, Ginger!!!

Love, Meghan

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hey ginger,

you and tj gave me a birthday quote for my 25th birthday that i still have and think everyone should get, every year that they're alive. i still have the original paper that you gave me - it's pretty beat up, but still meaningful to me. it's meant so much to me over the years and i try to give it at least once to all of my friends because the message is so important. hope you have a great day, ginger!!

love, joe, tl, b and mer

"Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: 'Thank you for being you.' Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say: 'Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished.' No, we say: 'Thank you for being born and being among us.' On birthdays we celebrate the present. We do not complain about what happened or speculate about what will happen, but we lift someone up and let everyone say: 'We love you.' Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people's birthdays every day, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and affection. These are ways of saying: 'It's good that you are alive; it's good that you are walking with me on this earth. Let's be glad and rejoice. This is the day that God has made for us to be and to be together.'" -Henri Nouwen

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Dear Ginger ~

Happy soon-to-be Birthday! :)

I just wanted to share with you that I truly feel blessed to have your friendship in my life. And in thinking of what to say on a blog spot, (when I've actually never done a blog spot before), I hope I get this right. So I'm going to say what I know what to do best which is share my feelings from my heart. :)

I remember back when we were just acquaintances and I would see you here and there at get togethers and I would think about what a totally cool person you seemed to be whenever I would see you. I thought that you were someone that I would like to get to know more and hopefully be friends with. I appreciated how "real" you were whenever I would talk with you. And then, what a blessing to me! God allowed us to be in your small group, and I became so blessed to be friends with you.

You invited me into your life and made me feel welcome immediately. And so began our friendship and it has just grown from there, and continues to grow as we hang out more and more. And I just can't say enough about how much I appreciate you and who you are. Thank you so much for simply being Ginger - the person that God made you to be. What I see in you is that you are first and foremost an awesome child of God; a woman on fire for knowing Jesus; a wonderful wife to TJ; an amazing mom of two precious boys; you are an honest & real friend; you love birds & words; you are just who God made you - wonderful, beautiful, amazing Ginger! :)

Happy Birthday, sweet friend. I treasure our friendship. ((( HUGS ))) :)

Much love,
Brandy :)

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Dear Ginger,

I have thought long and hard about what to say to you after TJ sent the email invitation to join in your celebration. I pondered each suggestion that TJ gave carefully and I decided to settle on the advice category – not just any advice though, but what I wish someone had told me 23 years ago when I turned 30. So here goes:

- A great prayer that will work in any situation you face is “Thy Will Be Done”
- A great Bible verse is “All things work together for good” not some, not a few, but ALL! This is good to know.
- Menopause is real and if it’s God’s will for you to live that long it will happen to you – but don’t worry, all things work together for good!

So … pray often for God’s will to be done for you, for your family, for your future.
Then … whatever happens remember that God has the power to bring GOOD out of EVERY situation.
And … when the hot flashes start – I’ll buy you one of those tea towels that says “I don’t have hot flashes, I have short private vacations to the tropics!”

Finally, Ginger,
Whatever is …
TRUE – you are loved, by God and many others on this planet (John 3:16)
NOBLE – not because of righteous things you have done …
RIGHT - but because of His mercy (Titus 3:5)
PURE – knowing that His plan is to prosper you and not to harm you to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11)
LOVELY – being strong and courageous not terrified or discouraged (Joshua 1:9)
ADMIRABLE – as you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phil 2:4)
EXCELLENT OR PRAISEWORTHY– being confident of this that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Phil 1:6)

THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS …and the God of peace will be with you! (Phil 4:8)

*Clinking glasses with you now*
Live the dream, Baby!
Long live, Ginger!

Love from your other Mom, Carol Anne

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Hey Ginger! Wow you are turning 30...how awesome.

I don't know if you remember but I actually turned 30 at PUSH. That's right...I started in September and in November I turned 30. It was the best b-day I think I have ever had. The one thing I wanted to do before I turned 30 was run a marathon. Well I almost made it. I turned 30 on November 11 but ran the Philadelphia marathon a week later!! I still feel like it counts. And I ran it under four hours so it didn't matter that I had already turned 30!

I also wanted very much to celebrate my 30th with close firends and family in NYC! John surprised me with a weekend trip to NY and had all of my friends and family meet us in the city for an amazing dinner. A night I will never forget. And to top off my 30th, John surprised me again...he came into PUSH with Champagne & Strawberries for everyone!!! I had no IDEA!! They called me inot the kitchen and everyone was standing around the table staring at me! We had a big cake & strawberries and toasted with a glass of champagne. It was so thoughtful and I was so completely honored that John wanted to celebrate me. Turning 30 was so wonderful and I am sure you are going to love it too. These have been the best years of my life so far. I married an amazing man, had two beautiful children and couldn't be happier.

Happy 30th Ginger!! Best wishes to you and your beautiful family.

OH and P.S. I have a tattoo but it is in a place that no one can see!!

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Ginger -
Happy 30th year to you! While you are celebrating your 30th birthday, Evan and I will be celebrating ten years of marriage on the same day! I remember the day we first met almost five years ago and how our friendship developed quickly into a sweet time God used in my life.

TJ says you want a tattoo, I'd honestly say no way, but that's just me. Your heart already has a tattoo of Jesus on it, you're marked for Him. I'm glad you've accepted His gift of salvation. I'm glad that you have a loving husband and two special little boys to share your life. He has given to you abundantly in 30 years and I trust He will continue to. "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you, not harm you, plans to give you hope and a good future." Jeremiah 29:11

I will close with a quote you wrote out in your "perfect handwriting" that is still hanging on my fridge.

"Weeds come of themselves; flowers require cultivation. There is depravity in the soil, a tendency to thorns and thistles. It is under the curse. Good things are brought out of the soil, like good things out of the human heart, only as the result of much labor. It takes no pains to produce a harvest of weeds, nor to produce the harvest that the thief or drunkard reaps ~ no more effort than is required to float down stream. This is depravity." - Gleanings for Sermons

Keep tending to the garden, pulling out the weeds and fighting the Good fight in the years to come!

Happy Birthday and God Bless!
Heather Oberly

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We all have friends that fill different roles in our lives - some for a season of life, some for a lifetime and some we do life with everyday. As a mom, I find that some of my most valued relationships are with other moms as we share our experiences, our dreams, our challenges and our triumphs. It gives me much hope and encouragement to know other moms that have two kids as we make that transition in our own family. It helps me to know that other moms are wanting to feed their kids healthy food and serve God with all their heart (whatever that may look like).

My friend Ginger is one of these friends and I am so thankful for her in my life. She is my sister in Christ and a special friend. Love you, girl!

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Happy Birthday Ginger!

What a pleasure it is to be a part of this birthday countdown! I guess I would be considered a long lost friend, reunited by facebook; and boy, am I'm glad we were. You see, when I stumbled across your facebook page and your blog and began reading I instantly felt reconnected to you after all these years. I began telling my friends about all your yummy recipes and healthy-eating kids and found myself referring to you over and over as 'my friend with the healthy blog'. I guess I'm going to just have to send them a link and start referring to you as my friend, Ginger ;-).

Ginger, although I've been able to keep in touch with your mom more than you over the last ten years, I feel like you are a friend I know so well. You are such a transparent woman, sharing life's ups and downs on your blog in such a real way. I sure do wish you lived down the street from me. Lucky is the girl who gets to be a part of your everyday life and gets to raise her children along side of yours.

You have so much within you to share. God has gifted you in so many ways. You are exactly the way I remembered you; thoughtful, kind, caring, insightful, diligent, a woman of integrity and after God's heart. You, Ginger Friesen, are authentic. That is something within you that we all admire and all aspire to.

Over the last few months, I have tried to catch up on your blog and see what I've been missing all these years that we haven't had any contact. I came across this quote you posted back in March of 2008:

“Reading and books are medicine. Stories are written and told by and for people who have been broken, but who have risen up, or will rise, if attention is paid to them. Those people are you and us. Stories and truth are splints for the soul, and that makes today a sacred gathering.” (A.L.)

I believe this says it all. God's beautiful story of your life is unfolding before us. I know that an amazing story is brewing in your heart for you to share with the world... and I can't wait to read it!

Happy 30th Birthday! Long live Ginger!

Elizabeth K.

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Happy 30th!!

You are the most together 30 year old I know. I wouldn't begin to tell you what I was like at 30. I have only known you a short time through Connections but I have really enjoyed that time. You are always searching for an answer and little do you know that you are the one giving everyone else the answers. You are a great inspiration and will be a great leader next session.

The only advise I could give is just give up on the perfectionism and enjoy every moment you have with your kids, husband, family, friends and most of all yourself. None of the other things matter in the end.

I too have always wanted a tattoo but have put it off for so long that I may be too old now. I was thinking of placing it on the inside of my fore arm. Who knows maybe next birthday. I will wait to see yours.

I have also read a lot of Elizabeth Berg and one of my favorites is Talk Before Sleep. If you have not read it do so and you will realize how we need to live every moment as though it may be our last.

Celebrate your last 30 years and enjoy the next 30 plus. LIVE!!

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Happy 30th Birthday Ginger! I can’t believe that you are turning 30. I remember so vividly playing with you when you were on a blanket on Mary Ma’s living room floor and realizing that babies were wonderful. It was then and there that I fell in love with you. Until then, I didn’t care much for babies. I’ve told you that story before I guess.

As I think of you turning 30, I can’t help but remember what the 30s were like for me.

At 30, I left the hospital job and went to work as a school nurse…turned 30 on Sept 30 and started my new job on Oct. 1. That was a good thing, because it gave me the opportunity to be at school with Kate for a few years, it gave me regular working hours…no more nights and weekends and holidays to work.

I think back to my 30’s and realize that at 30, Kate was 6, Eric was 3 and I became pregnant with Matt 4 months after my 30th birthday. So, basically, my 30s were spent raising Kate from age 6 to age 16, Eric – age 3 to 13, and Matt birth to 10. Those were the most physically demanding years of my life as far as raising a family. They also bring to mind the most precious memories and I would love to go back there and visit if I could. To again see our children as children playing, laughing, crying, arguing, fussing and fighting, sitting side by side in church on the 2nd pew, waking up on Christmas morning, blowing out birthday candles, learning to read and write and swim…oh those were precious times.

So as you enter your 30s, please know that these are precious times in your life and the life of your family. I know that you already know that.

I also remember that after 30, the birthdays run together…I would always have trouble remembering how old I was…”30 something” , I would say when asked my age. Maybe it’s because we are so busy raising families and the years just become insignificant.

Anyway, I’m happy for you to be turning 30 and I pray that you have a great year and a great decade to come! Thanks for letting me reminisce.

Thank you also for being a wonderful niece, a beautiful person inside and out, a wonderful wife and mother!

You are and will always be very special to me!

Lots and lots of love,
Aunt Kathryn

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