Ginger Turns 30!

Ginger.

I told my friend Jackie about this birthday blog and she said "Ginger, cool name." And I was like, you have no idea. It's more like: "Ginger, cool person."

These are the ages we have been together: 0 & 3, 3 & 6, 6 & 9, 9 & 12, 12 & 15, 15 & 18, 18 & 21, 21 & 24, 24 & 27, and coming soon 27 & 30. We have also been all the other ages in between but I used the math method that I invented in 3rd grade. It pretty much came about like this: I am in 3rd grade, Ginger is in 6th. When I am in 6th, she will be in 9th. When I am in 9th, she will be a senior. You get the picture. But when you line them all up together like so, its pretty clear that 27 & 30 look like the most fun. They look comfortable, without drama. But still exciting and youthful.

So, I have a couple things in the way of birthdays and tattoos to lend. But then I have some other things, the things that make me enjoy your blogs so much each day. Like a picture, a quote, a recipe, a list. I wanted to see what I can give back in one post.

I already bought one thing for your birthday present. It is very cool.

And guess what! You can get a tattoo in white ink. The aforementioned friend Jackie has 2 white stars on her foot and she is very light skinned and I never would have seen them if she didn't point them out. I got so excited and wanted to call you immediately. But I had to keep it in. Because maybe you will decide not to get one but just in case you do want one, you could think about getting it in white. That might make it stand out less and keep it from being something you always have to talk about but could easily see and point out to yourself as needed. I tried to take a picture of Jackie's to show you but it didn't show up that well.

"No fear, no envy, no meanness" is a quote Dwight told me that is in the Bob Dylan movie. I think someone said it to Bob Dylan but either way I love it. I think its like a good life motto. The opposites would be Trust, Thankful, Nice - all things I want to be. Maybe I will cross stitch it. I am planning to re-learn how to cross stitch but everytime I go in the craft store I have to use the bathroom so bad I end up leaving.

Here are two of my favorite things. This smoothie is the one I make almost 2 times a week. I intend to make it every morning.

Morning Smoothie
Frozen mango from Trader Joe's on bottom (approx. 8-10 chunks)
Frozen strawberries from Trader Joe's next (approx. 5-6 strawberries)
Mixed berries or blueberries next (about 1/4 - 1/2 cup)
Put in microwave for 1 minute to soften a bit
Add banana on top and one quick splash of water
Use hand blender thing and blend together - will be very thick b/c of mango and banana. Add water depending if you want to eat with a straw or a spoon.

Favorite Chocolate
Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate - it literally just says Dark Chocolate and comes with 3 bars in one wrapping. It's not too dark, nor is it bitter. it's perfect.

For your listing pleasure:

Current Members of the Underground Paisley Movement
(aka The Hope and Feather Club)
Ginger
Holly
Lauren Ezell
Miska
Blaire Reynolds
Anne Lamott
Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Patty Griffin

Books I have started this year but not quite finished
Watchmen by Alan Moore - down to the last 10 pages and stopped
Green for Life by Boutenko - 81 out of 158
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama - 163 out of 442
The Human Factor by Graham Greene - 35 out of 302
The Viking Portable Library on Faulkner - the introduction only
The 80/10/10 Diet by Douglas N. Graham - 87 out of 338

Books I have finished this year
The Dart League King by Keith Morris - 270 pages
The Human Stain by Philip Roth - 361 pages
A Widow for One Year by John Irving - 537 pages!!!
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - 370 pages (maybe I read this last year)
The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant - 288 pages

What I put in my stir fry tonight 6/15/09
White button mushrooms
1/2 red bell pepper
1 zuchinni
1/4 yellow squash
1/2 eggplant
1/2 white onion
salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil to cook it in

Birthday Wishes
cute baby
cute son
cute husband
perfect bananas
only the coolest birthday cards
good hair day
shaved legs
no fever blisters
favorite outfit
fresh bath towel
no stinky trash in kitchen
one piece of chocolate
small surprise in routine
sunny day
lots of cards in the mail
feeling thankful
being loved

I love you sister.
Love Holly

Ginger, I hope you have a wonderful birthday and a wonderful time reflecting on 30 years of life. You inspire me to read more and to learn to be healthier (I think it is a forever ongoing process...) and to embrace each day to the fullest! Thanks for being an inspiring, creative, and fun friend - even if we haven't seen you guys in like 10 years (seriously, our paths need to cross soon?!). I have enjoyed keeping in touch with you ever since our Clemson days. I especially enjoyed re-connecting with you this past year through our natural childbirth discussions as well as emails about strollers, food, and health. I really did have YOU in mind when I told Darrell, "let's go onto the hospital, I don't want to have this baby at home or in the car!" And Baxter was born 19 minutes after our arrival at the hospital.

Below is a recipe for you! It is an old favorite recipe of mine - I somewhat followed the recipe the first time but I haven't measured any of the ingredients for this in forever. It is easy to remember and just throw together without having to really measure anything. Also, I have never used green onions because Darrell doesn't like them. Side note: This recipe also taught me to toast pine nuts - Jasper and I eat them plain but they are SO good toasted, too. I often toast them in just a little olive oil in a small skillet and add to salads or eat for a snack.

Broccoli with Pine Nuts
3/4 lb fresh broccoli
2 T. olive oil
1 green onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 T. pine nuts
3 T. raisins
1 T. balsamic or red wine vinegar

Place broccoli spears in steamer basket and steam about 10 mins. Heat oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add green onion, garlic, pine nuts, and raisins. Saute until nuts are golden. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar. Place broccoli in a serving dish and spoon onion mixture over top. Makes 4 servings.

Enjoy! Happy birthday Ginger!

To my sweet friend, Ginger!

Happy Birthday!!! I am so excited to be celebrating the gift of you!!! It has been such a blessing getting to know you these last few years and doing life with you and our families. You are such a joy! And your friendship is such a gift! I am challenged and loved and encouraged each time I am with you. I am not very gifted in writing, expressing my thoughts/feelings through words. So, I decided to share with you some of my favorite things that have seasoned, challenged, or encouraged my life in hopes to add flavor to your celebration and life! May you experience Joy in the Journey in your next 30 years!!!

Many blessings of love, joy, peace, & rest...

-Jaime

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My precious daughter Ginger,

I have loved you with an everlasting love therefore

I have drawn you with the Loving-kindness (Jeremiah 31:3)

I know the plans I have for you, the plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I will be faithful to complete the work that I began in you Ginger (Phil 1:6)

I am at work in you to will and work in you for my pleasure (Phil 2:13)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to me, and my peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ. (Phil 4:6-7)

Rejoice in me always, Ginger (Phil 4:4)

You can do all things through me (Phil 4:13)

I am able to do exceedingly abundantly more than you could ask or imagine (Eph 3:20)

Ginger, you have died and your life is now hidden in Christ in me (Col 3:3) Therefore, set your mind on things above and not on earthly things (Col 3:2)

Press on Ginger in whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in my name giving thanks to me (Col 3:17, 1 Thes 5:18)

Let your light shine so that others may see me (Matthew 5:16)

Remember that I am here and I will never leave you; I am with you always! (Matthew 28:20)

-Your loving heavenly Father

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“Wholly Yours” by David Crowder

I am full of earth

You are heaven’s worth

I am stained with dirt, prone to depravity

You are everything that is bright and clean

The antonym of me

You are divinity

And you’re covering me with your majesty

But a certain sign of grace is this

From a broken earth flowers come up

Pushing through the dirt

But the harder I try the more clearly can I feel

The depth of our fall and the weight of it all

And so this might be the most impossible thing

Your grandness in me making me clean

My coolest friend, Ginger!

Two years ago I fell in like with you
and I'm still head over heels in like with you.

A further test of our friendship....
How many people could I say that to
without fear of being misunderstood?

Happy birthday to the wisest 30-year-old I know! Thank you for always being there for me! I believe that people come in and out of our lives to teach us something…good or bad. You have taught me so many amazing things about God, friendship, family and most of all you have taught me the meaning of unconditional love, acceptance and understanding. I know that I tell you often how much I cherish our friendship, but can you really hear too much of a good thing?

Let me know when you are going for your tattoo because I would like to hitch a ride on the tattoo wagon with you!

I heart you!

Lisa

Dear Ginger,
Happy 30th Birthday!!! I'm so excited for you that TJ has put together this blog and you'll get to read wonderful words about YOU all month long!

Ginger, I just want to tell you that you're one of my favorite friends ever. Seriously. When I met you about 11 years ago (see above!), I knew right away that you were a different sort of person. Not only did you wear cool thift store t-shirts and pigtail braids, you were always up for an adventure! It was fun to sit around with you and think of fun things to do... like the time we just hopped in the car, drove to the mall and got the tops of our ears pierced together! (We were CRAZY, I know!) You made me cool signs for my room... you've always been a thoughtful giver. And you always had the time to just sit and listen when I stopped by to pour my heart out. I'm so grateful that we had the chance to be roommates at Clemson. I loved hanging out in our room (surrounded by Got Milk? ads!) and talking about everything until late at night. I appreciate how you really take the time to think deeply about things. You never spout off quick advice; it is always heartfelt. I know that you've touched the lives of so many people in this way... probably more people than you know!

I wish, wish, wish that we lived closer together... or at least that I knew when we would see each other again, since I can't remember the last time we did! (Maybe that trip to Ikea in Baltimore like 4 years ago?) But more than that, I wish that you have a great birthday and that you realize how many people love you and admire you! You're one of a kind!

love, your friend Shannon!