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This past Sunday was my 23rd birthday and next Monday will be one year since my baptism, my spiritual birthday. There has been so much reason to celebrate, not for my physical birth or even my public declaration of faith, but a celebration that this was the year where I learned what it mean to deny myself. I celebrate my death. I celebrate that Christ not only died for me, but He died as me.

I thought the price of obedience to God looked like a relationship born out of duty, humility, and letting go of worldly desires. It isn't even close. It is so much better - infinitely so!  Obedience to my Dad is trading in my petty wants and desires for His desires - which is by no means an easy feat - for ultimate joy.

If I could compare my own desires to a pocketful of sunshine - doing well in school, traveling to all 7 continents, being an awesome pharmacist, getting married, sleeping in til 9PM, eating anything I want and not suffering from imagined-GERD - then the joy of God is like the very sun itself multiplied by the number of stars in strength and magnitude. That is how weak my desires are compared to the desires of my Dad and what He wants for me. How could I refuse? I can't! Haha! There is so much more to be said but I was not gifted with words nor eloquence but I was given His joy for my obedience.

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January must be the month to blog for me because I have been pretty consistent this past week. Today I am celebrating my 2nd day of being 22. I realize that my past two entries have been about my birthday, which may seem like I am making more of a big hoopla over being 22 than I should have when I turned 21. Which isn't the case. I celebrate my 22nd year with such enthusiasm because my 21st year following up to my 22nd was so freaking amazing. When I look back this year, I think "Damn, I did good". The equivalent of my feelings right now would be close to graduating or the completion of a masterpiece.

I thank God for giving me His unlimited strength to work, pledge, and make the decision to break up with my boyfriend.

I thank God for showing me His wonders by letting me globetrot to four different continents.

I thank God for revealing Himself in people I should aspire to be more like and to pursue.

I thank God for surrounding me in fertile soil so that I may be constantly growing.

I thank God everyday.

A couple of days ago I asked a friend who recently turned 22 as well how it felt to be another year older. He begrudgingly replied, "There's nothing to look forward to anymore. Twenty-one was IT." His response made me sad because I wish he would have lived his 21st year like it was his birthday everyday (minus the alcohol). This year is my golden year and I am going to live it like it is.

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Today is my golden birthday and it has been a glorious day. I am so thankful for the amazing company, calls, texts, and messages that I have received today and even more grateful for the friendships and experiences these have filled these past twenty-two years.

Twenty-one was an AMAZING age for me and I know twenty-two will be just the same. WOOHOO!

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See you later summer, we'll meet again in three years. Time to leave the little girl behind and step into my big girl shoes.

NAAAAAAAAW lol FOREVER YOOOUNG!