I'm The Big 2-0

The rumors are indeed true...I'm turning 20! Thanks to all of those lovely comments...loved the poem, Luke!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
FROM YOUR BLOGGING BUDS,
WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE A BLOGGER,
EVEN IF YOU FORGET WHAT "SENTENCE" MEANS.

I was just thinking how different things were last year...I had both grandfathers - Pawpaw & Papa Hoyt - and my Memeow (great grandmother). I didn't really know my Uncle Billy and Aunt Stephanie. I was seriously considering leaving politics in my past. I was a new graduate. I was looking for the direction my life should take. I wasn't blogging. I was missing out on tons of great people! :-) I was finishing up a heated softball year. Karate was but a thought. I was celebrating my birthday with my Papa Hoyt, Granny Duh, & Memeow. I went fishing with my Pawpaw for the first (and last) time in his boat!

How many things have changed. If only I'd have known that was my last birthday, my last fishing trip I'd have enjoyed myself more and let the "little things" bug me less. I'd have given more hugs, smiled more, and laughed carefree. But they all got to see me graduate and were so proud of me!

My family, grandmother, and a few friends threw me a surprise birthday part at IHOP! Yes, IHOP...they said I was the one who picked the place! LOL I love their salad and that was the answer to my favorite place to eat when they casually asked last night! I got tons of great gifts - I was sure to get great pictures for all of you guys! But my family and the guys made fun of me getting pictures of things..."Don't you want a picture with it?" Then they'd burst out laughing. I do have TONS of pictures of me with them all, too! Check back next week for those! :-)

Well, with that I'll end with a song from Natalie Grant...

I’ve been driving through the night
Pull up and see the lights
This is the place that I call home

I watch you as you dream
I think of all you mean to me
Touch your face, kiss you softly

And before I go to sleep, I pray under the stars
Search my soul and check my heart

CHORUS:
(I) thank God for another day, another chance
To love the ones I love
To find my way
To laugh, to dance
And watch the sun come up
Another day I get to live
As if every breath could be the last I take
I get another day

I have a hand that I can hold
Someone who knows my soul
A safe place to lay my head at night
Still sometimes I forget
Just how much I’ve been blessed in life
I forget what means the most to me, yeh
But I’m waking up again
I feel my beating heart
So grateful that I’ve come this far

CHORUS

Another day to make somebody smile
To go the extra mile
To take a wrong and make it right
Yeh, I’m tryin’ to touch somebody’s life
I get another day