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