Birthday Celebrations!

I celebrated my 25th birthday this weekend! It was one of the best birthdays I have had in a while (minus Hell's Kitchen last year, of course).

The festivities began on Friday afternoon with my college friends. They surprised me by taking me to a water park west of the cities for an overnight extravaganza. It was the perfect getaway.

Saturday morning I returned home to have my whole immediate family there. Popparone, Momma Cakes, Micah, Noah, Abby, and Suz. Plus Unca Ronnie added to the fun! It has been so long since we had all spent a day together and shared in a meal: homemade pizza, corn mush, green bean salad, and birthday cake!
We spend our time together playing games, telling stories, laughing, and...going down to the river! It has been many, many years since all of us have gone down together. Abby, Noah, Woofie, and I went swimming. Woofie came too!

The water was so shallow we could walk across to the island. Dad made the trek with us. We spotted eagles and fish along the way.

Saturday evening Dad and I visited Grandma and Bernie to catch up on all of the Osceola news.

Sunday, UB came for the day, and we had such a good time too.

Plus, thank you to all who called and wrote as well. I am so thankful for your love and friendship.

If that weren't enough, there are more celebrations to come. Not necessarily birthday ones, but this week, I get to see some more friends I haven't been with in a year!

What a blessing.

With joy--
HGJ

The Ultimate Waterslide

I love waterslides.

I don't like roller coasters, but I love the anticipation at the top of a waterslide, sitting in the water waiting for the go-ahead from the lifeguard, pushing off, and plunging, twisting and turning, up, down and all around, the slides, finally catching my breath at the bottom in the pool. Going to a water park is, by far, one of my favorite things to do.

I'm up for pretty much any slide, but this one had me completely amazed. Someone sent me this video. Check it out. The slide is sweet. The pool is incredibly small!



Peace--
HGJ

If I could live anywhere...

Today I decided if I could live anywhere in the Twin Cities, it would be Linden Hills in South Minneapolis.

My friends (and newlyweds) emily and Colby live there. It has the neatest shops, a co-op, awesome restaurants, a super cool bakery, gorgeous homes, its own library, and the feel of a small-town. Plus, it's a few blocks from the lakes.

Someday...when I'm rich and famous.

Ha.

A fellow dreamer--
HGJ

Family Camp '09

We spent Sunday--Thursday with friends from my home congregation at Lake Carlos State Park, just outside of Alexandria, Minnesota.

It was fun to reconnect with these families, eat delicious food, enjoy the beautiful weather, and spend all day outside. The temperatures were cooler, but so wonderful.

Little Bertha, Mom's Scamp camper, made the trek just fine. People are still surprised to hear that it sleeps four. Our little egg shaped camper suits us perfectly. Anything more would be too much for us!

What a relaxing time for us all.

Peace--
HGJ