More Than 24

I know my birthday was all the way back in June, but it's taken a while to find the words to capture exactly what I wanted to say. I was kinda dreading my birthday this year. Well, maybe not dreading it, but I wasn't too excited about it at first. I was really bummed not to be home for it, to be honest, and I thought it was just going to feel like any other day.

Tim and I started making plans, though, and it started getting more exciting. As we talked about it, I also told him how I just wasn't too excited. He told me he really didn't understand why, so I tried to explain it to him. I actually was feeling like it was surreal in a way to be turning 24 and truly feeling like an adult. He pointed out that I've been one all through college, but I clarified that I meant the "adult" I always looked forward to being -- one with my own place, my own job, my own bills, etc...being fully in the adult world. It just didn't feel real at all.

Then it clicked.God brought so many things together in my life, especially just since my last birthday...

• A job I love
• A place of my very own
• A dog to love and spoil rotten...which became two! 
• A wonderful boyfriend to share a beautiful relationship with
• A knowledge so much deeper that corresponds with my independence
• The support of amazing family and friends to help me through everything

And you know, suddenly 24 became real to me. More than that, it became a real blessing.

The day itself was absolutely remarkable. After a wake up call from that sweet boyfriend of mine, I got some things done at home. Tim surprised me with coffee, roses, and a wonderful card before we went to Lincoln for a few hours for some lunch and a Target adventure. We made a surprise stop at DQ on the way home and got a birthday cake [I picked out a cake witha tractor to commemorate the first year of officially living in Nebraska, hehehe]. After Tim left for work, I got some birthday phone calls from friends and family, watched Scrubs while crocheting, and talked to Tim once more before calling it a night. I went to bed loving the day and feeling like a treasured princess.

24 ended up being one of the best birthdays...and to think I started off dreading it! It's been a good first few months of being this old, and I'm excited to see what other adventures come before I turn 25. :)