a birthday post.

there's lots to feel special about when it's your big day. especially when your loved ones turn it into a big-kind-of-deal {don't you just secretly love that? no? i do. *wink}.

today was my big day and even though being away from home for the first birthday was hard, i truly had a fabulous day.

a journal excerpt:

Lord, you have nurtured and grown me over the last 28 years. what can i say to your everlasting love and continued protection? what thanks can i give to your hand of mercy and your sovereign direction in my life? no words are enough. my heart swells with JOY when i think of your goodness throughout my life. your peace follows me all the days of my life. thank you. thank you for knowing my thoughts. for understanding my fleshy heart and naturally sinful ways. thank you for loving me towards change. a change only found through your glorious Son, Jesus Christ. thank you for loving me towards you. i had a wonderful and beautiful birthday today, which included (and most likely not limited to):

-a peaceful morning getting ready

-playdate with the girls {and jordyn} in the courtyard {this unfortunately involved getting eaten alive by mosquitoes}

-lunch @ rachel's apartment with the kiddos, who sang me "happy birthday" when i walked through the door

-received an A-dorable chic journal from rach'

-attempted nap with my girls

-"woke" to hubby home

-cracker barrel dinner - yummy!!

-trip to target for me {this may or may not be my favorite thing in all of existence}

-movie pick-up {hannah montana the movie - we had to pick one jess could watch too *wink}

-starbucks stop for dessert {naturally}

-awesome family night with plenty of phone calls, text messages, facebook messages, an email, voicemails and beautiful cards {with treasures inside} throughout the day {thank you everyone!}

-it's good to feel special! *smile