The Big 2-4

Last year I spent my birthday in a way I had never dreamed. When you're growing up, you think by 24 you would be married...maybe even have a few kids. I suppose I was no different in that thinking, and even at 23 I was engaged. So never in my mind did I think I would spend my 24th birthday single. Nor did I think I'd spend it in the most heart-warming, sweetest way. I wouldn't trade anything for how I spent my birthday last year.

I walked into school that morning, and my dearest Alma friend--Dee Ann--had set a package in my seat. It was pink tote with an embroidered "A" on it. Inside was a wall decoration that read, "Faith is not knowing God can. It is knowing God will." (And boy, did He ever...)
Since my birthday is the end of May, we were having school assemblies left and right. My birthday fell on a Friday, which happened to be the same day as our AMS awards' assembly. School dismissed early, and the teachers had a luncheon at the PAC. When I got there, Leslie had saved me a seat. She also surprised me with an apron she had made just for me! You may not know my friend Leslie, but she is the best at anything sewn! She also knew I loved aprons, so to have her make me something I'm so fond of was just overwhelmingly amazing to me!

My friend Sara modeling the apron Les made for me!!

My sweet friend Leslie--I love her like she is my very own sister. I hate that we live away from each other now, but I love what God is doing in our lives and in our friendship!

After the luncheon, I went home and just sat around. I had no clue what to do that night. My mom offered for me to go to Ozark, but at that point in my life I wanted to show I could do it and make it on my own. Maybe I was trying to prove a point to my ex-fiance. Or maybe I was trying to prove a point to myself. Either way, I was in the business of living a brand new life...I just didn't have many brand new friends yet!

Then my phone rang, and it was sweet Kolby Dilbeck. She asked if we could please go to supper, and of course I wanted to! We ate Chili's down! The lady kept saying, "Do you want anything else?" And every time, we found something new on the menu! I felt terrible afterward, though, when I was surprised to find out that Coach and Bobbie had given Kolby their card to pay for our dinner. Bobbie told me later, "I didn't know a girl your size could eat SO MUCH!" We all had a good laugh about my ability to throw down some food.
We hung out and had just the best time of our lives! Ultimately, it wasn't how I had expected to spend my 24th birthday, but it was definitely the perfect way. I found that even during times that you think you're at your worst...when you think you have no friends...when you think that you're in a new town without any family...that's when you find those friends, you find that family, and find that every season of life has a celebration.

I wouldn't know what to do without those friendships over the past year. That time of my life gave me the opportunity to develop relationships with people I may never have gotten to know had I been married or in a relationship. This year my birthday will be much different, especially since it'll be my last weekend with my family for almost 3 months. But what I've learned is you have to take every season, every circumstance, and every moment that you're given; and you have to celebrate it like it's the most defining moment of your life. Because chances are, it is.

However, I'm not sure I'm ready for that defining moment of being a quarter of a century old. Ouch.

The Golden Years

That's my Pa Dutton--my sale barn buddy, my favorite cowboy, my go-to guy. Because my Pa Dutton makes it known that I'm his very, very favorite. And he loves me more than anyone else on this earth ever could. He especially loves going to eat with me at I-40 on Thursdays so he can brag to his buddies that he can get the young girls to come eat with him. I love that man!

When I was in high school, I had the coolest job! I started as a janitor with side duties of passing ice at the local nursing home. One of the directors approached me one day to see if I'd be interested in taking CNA classes the summer between my junior and senior year of high school. I was ecstatic! Not only would I be receiving a raise to $7.00/hour, I would also get to be part of the residents' everyday lives.

It was an experience I'll never forget and one I often long to go back to. If you know anything about CNAs, you know they have the hardest job in America. In my short tenure, I got chased down the hallway, my hair pulled out, told I was in the middle of World War II, and so much more. I bathed, fed, changed, and talked to the residents every single day. It was gruesome. A lot of times it stunk, literally. But I loved my job from day one, and I fell in love with the residents, their stories, and their families.

I learned quickly my passion was for the elderly. It was never a question in my mind or those close to me that I always gravitated toward people several generations older. Even today my dearest and closest friend in Alma is a woman a few years older than my mom. (Not that she's elderly..she's just older! :) )

Knowing that, it may be a shock that I'm in education. However, what I strive to do in my job is give my students an understanding and appreciation of the world that our elders have made for us. I try to exemplify to them the things generations before of us have endured: a bloody Civil War between brothers, cousins, and friends; a depression that simultaneously weakened our economy and strengthened our American spirit; terrorist attacks that threatened our national security. I could go on and on about what other generations have endured for us..and that is why I admire and respect them so much.

Luckily, I had some wonderful grandparents that top the list of my favorite elderly people!

My Granny is hands down the best cook on earth! She and Pa have always opened their home to our huge family, and Granny slaves over her stove making me baked beans and baking Brad pecan pies. We are, after all, the two favorites!

She's also the sweetest, kindest person I know. Last Christmas a little girl that rides her bus broke her present for her teacher one morning at the bus stop. Granny went to Wal-Mart and bought another present for the girl's teacher, even though she probably didn't have the money to do so. She makes sure every single person that comes to her house for Christmas has at least one present to open. And most of the time, she has spent the entire year making us presents with her own hands. I could just cry thinking of the time she dedicates to other people.

And my Grandpa Kuykendall...the best man God ever made. He and my grandmother were married for 53 years before she passed away. The last 3 years of her life she had Alzheimer's, and she couldn't even remember him most days. Still, he loved her more then than he did the day he married her. He slept in the recliner next to her all those nights and would just hold her hand when she asked. Love like that...so few of us exemplify it.

That's my Grandma Kuykendall! She passed away last October, and I had the honor of speaking at her funeral. I could never say enough about how much I loved her...and how much she made me laugh! It wasn't a question who was her favorite--all of us! She was the best grandma, and it was hard to watch her forget us in her last years. But it gave me an understanding for what thousands of other people go through.

Grandpa K likes to do things with us more often now. He went with us last fall to listen to the elk bugle in Boxley Valley. A lot of times he'll come to Alma to take me on "dates." We will go have what he calls a malt, aka a milkshake. And he'll just sit and tell me stories of when he was younger, all the girls he dated, and all the trouble he prayed we would never find out about!

Between my grandparents, the residents I served in the nursing home, and the people I strike up conversations with in the local diners, the elderly are no doubt my passion. They say your golden years are your last, but having a passion in life for that generation has helped make every single day golden for me.

And I Thought It Was the Fourth of July

Typically when asked about my favorite holiday, it is an automatic response of "Easter!" But Easter just happened, and I've read countless blogs about the holiday. So today I'm concentrating on my other favorite holiday--the 4th of July.

I was lucky enough to grow up with a dad who had served 5 years in the U.S. Air Force. He has told me countless stories about mid-air refuelings, survival camps, and linguist school. It's never short of amazing to hear about his stint in Monterey Bay, California. For several grueling months he learned the ins and outs and rolled r's of the Russian language. After many stops later, he found himself in Fairbanks, Alaska where he (and soon after my mom) lived for 3 years. I'm not sure I'd ever be tough enough for that!
Can you imagine living in such a cold, freezing, dark place? Brrrr. I just get cold thinking about it.

My dad's 2 older brothers were also in the Air Force, and my Uncle Dan eventually retired having spent 20+ years in the service. His daughter is now in the Air Force as well. I suppose my dad's side of the family gave me my love for the military. Or perhaps it was the time I spent getting to know the guys on Navy Seal Team 10. Or likely it's because I simply am in love with the United States of America. Whatever the reason, I am one of the biggest advocates for the U.S. military.
Add to that I am flat out in love with summer. What could be better than the combination of watermelon, sun, cookouts, and friends? That's what I live for!
Okay, I have a serious problem. I don't like watermelon. I am obsessed with it! Saturday night I had a few bites of it for the first time since last summer. Ever since I have been dying for some more watermelon. I could almost eat that picture I am craving it so bad. Anyway, the fourth of July...

With the summer fun toppled with the celebration of America's independence, it's no doubt why I love the fourth of July. Fireworks, hamburgers, and of course watermelon make the holiday nothing short of amazing. Every year I sit there in absolute awe of the celebration taking place for our country. I wonder what the fireworks looked like that fateful night in Boston Harbor when protesters began to dump tea off the ships. I wonder what the fireworks looked like during the American Revolution when Paul Revere rode along to warn of the British coming. I wonder what the fireworks looked like in 1776 when we finally received independence from Great Britain (shout out to the Royal Wedding--still loved it!).

I'm going to miss all the fireworks this year, but I think I'll have enough next summer to suffice. What a year I have in front of me!