Twenty-Five

Last Saturday I celebrated my Twenty-Fifth Birthday. It was a great day with wine, friends, and of course dancing. It's crazy to think about the last 25 years. I'm a little taller, a lot smarter, probably not as funny, maybe more sarcastic, but definitely a bigger pain in the butt.

I remember the day each of my sisters was born, they each got a little better with time. I remember birthdays, themed ones of course. I remember Thanksgiving day Fantasy Lights outings. I remember Easter Egg hunts. I remember farm animals in the backyard. I remember swimming for days on end each summer, okay maybe I was laying out. I remember watching my grandpa and uncles play in their baseball league. I remember making popcorn balls every winter. I remember the day I got my play house. I remember getting in trouble for drinking and driving, in my defense THAT time I actually didn't do it. I remember getting new pets. I remember getting my first hospital job. I remember jumping on my water bed, while jamming to Terri Clark (look her up). I remember begging my parents to let me wear mascara. I remember getting my first car, and buying the second one all by myself. I remember trying out for sports teams. I remember going to Dairy Queen for special treats. I remember cutting my hair before AWANA. I remember bike riding with my dad. I remember rebelling against everything my parents said. I remember play dates at Spanaway Park. I remember being homeschooled, then going back to public school. I remember moving across the state, then moving across the country. I remember sneaking out of the house. I remember vacation bible school. I remember not knowing what sex was. I remember being embarrassed when my mom came to my school wearing buck teeth. I remember laughing at my great great grandmother who had Alzheimers. I remember road trips to California and Iowa. I remember that halloween when my parents told me I had a different Dad than my sisters. I remember my first time on a plane. I remember that spelling bee where I couldn't spell laundry or was it vacuum? I remember my first time at Disneyland and then Disneyworld. I remember fights with my parents. I remember moving to Iowa, and I remember moving back to Washington. I remember my first time flying alone, I was 9. I remember dancing with my Uncle at his first wedding. I remember blushing every time he called me "babe", now he just calls me bean. I remember wanting my baby sister to be 'put on the ground, so I could play with her'. I remember that time at Denny's when I met my biological dad. I remember when my cat died, both of them. I remember moving to a new house. I remember my first day of middle school. I remember all the different 'best' friends I had. I remember my first kiss, my first boyfriend, and my first heartbreak. I remember asking Jesus to live inside my heart forever. I remember the day my other Uncle died. I remember the day my sister called me needing my help. I remember popped collars. I remember getting put to sleep for a dental cleaning. I remember getting my first 40 hour a week job. I remember the first time my grandpa yelled at me. I remember calling my grandpa to come 'save me'. I remember graduating high school, and then college. I remember moving into my dorm room. I remember getting my rejection letter to nursing school, and then years later getting my acceptance letter to graduate nursing school. I remember bombing tests, and acing some. I remember skipping school. I remember starting my period, yikes. I remember getting fired from my first job. I remember my grandpa teaching me how to drive, and my uncle teaching me how to speed. I remember being jealous because I couldn't go hunting. I remember my first funeral. I remember picking up my very own dog. I remember buying my first legal drink. I remember drinking my first not so legal drink. 
I remember the last 25 years. So cheers to the next 25~

Things I've learned in my 25 years of life:

- You will mess up, but don't give yourself a hard time about it
- Never allow another person to determine your mood
- Dogs are a girls best friend
- The older you get, the less bullshit you want to put up with
- Not everyone in your life is on your 'team'
- Laughing really is the cure for a bad day, plus a little wine :)
- There are a lot of people who want to see you fail ... BUT there are even more who want to see you succeed
- Dancing is better in cowgirl boots
- There will be a lot of days when you want to give up, don't
- Friendships are better when quality > quantity - I can name all my best friends on one hand
- Family is #1
- It's okay to cry, but clean up your black eyes after
- Not everyone that asks "How are you", really cares what the answer is
- Nice guys (that I would consider dating) do exist
- Jesus loves you, forever, despite ALL of your flaws
- Growing up is inevitable, embrace it
- Never stop learning ~