Why Hello 27

I always told myself that 26 was the perfect age: you were old enough to be respected and treated as an adult but young enough to still be hip; finished with school and starting a family but not too old to still play around and have fun.  To me, 26 was ideal, but crossing the border to 27 would make me 'old.'

26 lived up to it's hype and proved to be an awesome year, full of adventure.  From my birthday in 2012 to my birthday in 2013 we moved from Texas to Florida to Virginia to Florida to Brazil, sold two houses, went on a trip to Jamaica, celebrated 6 years of marriage, started life in a new country with a new language and culture, and filled our free time with friends, volleyball, church, and our energetic toddler.

I've never been sad about a birthday before, and in all honesty I'm not truly sad, but this is the first year I've really thought about getting older.  But with all we've been blessed with so far, and with all that's ahead on the horizon, I can't wait to see what this next year brings! (However, Nick did remind me that I was nearing 30 and to rub it all in, that evening a bunch of the younger guys we know asked if I could watch their phones/wallets/keys/sunglasses while they played volleyball - I think I'm the official 'mom' of the group, haha).

I had a great, but BUSY, birthday weekend.  First thing, the morning of my birthday, I played in a volleyball tournament (which did not end very well...but at least I was with my friends).  Throughout the day, I watched our city's men's teams play, went to a girl's bible study (where they had baked me a cake and bought me a present!), and attended a dear friend's baby shower.  The night before I had gone to a guitar class (that's right people, I'm trying to learn to play the guitar!) and the next day we went to church and to our friend Pedro's house to celebrate his grandmother's birthday.

Everywhere I went, people seemed to know it was my birthday and greeted me with hugs, kisses and congratulations :)  I even received some super thoughtful presents including a gift basket of chocolates, a mug, some earrings and a bracelet, and a guitar clock/photo frame, haha (from my guitar teacher and his wife, of course).

It's been a great 27 years and this old lady is looking forward to what the next 27 will bring ;)