tia on duty

First off, I'm sorry for my month of silence. Between getting the house ready and having it ready for showings, I've hardly touched my laptop. In fact, this is the first time in probably a month that I am sitting down to use it at all. (aside from cutting on music, and that, well lets get real, hardly counts.)

Now onto life as I (currently) know it...I am presently at my sister's house! It was a two-way favor, see. They needed a sitter for an event, and I needed some time away. So in return for a babysitter, they are letting me stay a few days, and I am loving every second with these guys!

Those of you who read my blog at all, know that I come from what is culturally accepted as a "large" family. With four sisters(just on this side of the family) and three nephews, it can be difficult to get one-on-one time, as they are often the most popular attendees at family functions.

But here I am. The only tia for miles. The one for who's attention they are pining. Every little thing they do, from "look at this stick" to "watch me jump off this wall," the comment I hear squealed out of their little mouths is "Yonnie look!!"

The one recently got glasses and is starting to read, another finding his voice and learning to communicate his opinion and the other is in the early stages of learning to walk. Each of them so different. Their own person. They all have likes, and dislikes. Each a voice and face of their own. Each precious and lovely to me. One look. One word. And this tia is melting at their beck and call.

But, even if I would give them the world if they asked, I've found myself in a difficult position.

Three such different guys. Three little people. Three love languages. Three ages. Three names. Three behaviour patterns. Three personalities.

And only. One. Me. No other aunts, uncles, grandparents or anyone else to help make sure each child felt important.

Oh how desperately I want each of them to feel loved and cherished and important! For them to be able to look back and to say "My aunt took time for me. She listened. She loved me."

I have quickly found myself tuning out the copious amounts of noise; turning a deaf ear whatever unidentifiable sound is coming from the back seat or other room; and unfortunately even snapping when they weren't listening to "gentle" instruction.

But while I was here alone, I had this revelation of common knowledge dawn on me: it goes too fast. I looked around and man, I told my sister the mess would have made a nun swear because it had gotten that bad that fast. I won't even go into detail about the mess, the baby has been just off for two days and appears to be getting sick, so he was clingy and fussy. The older two were absolutely wound! They had enough energy to demote the energizer bunny. I didn't even feel stressed about the chaos I had allow to descend on the house, and before I knew it, #2 was asking me what I was singing.

Singing?

Yep. Singing. You guys have got to believe me...it took me an hour and a half to clean up after I put the kids down. And I didn't even care. I enjoyed cleaning up. Because I knew that I had spent time with the little boys who so dearly love me and are glad that I am here with them.

The cake that in my mind was total bust was a little sliver of heavenly sweetness to them. They didn't care that my hair was messy or that my outfit totally clashed. They don't care if I have eloquent speech or use fancy words. It does not impress them when I sing or speak Spanish. They won't remember those things.

The mess remained until they were down. But we had fun. We played games and laughed and just enjoyed being tia and nephews. We sang lullabies and quoted Bible verses together. And it turned out to be a lovely night. I wouldn't change one single thing about it.

So now here it is. 12:30am. I'm sitting in a clean house. With happy sleeping boys upstairs. And I am perfectly pleased to know, I was able to let it all go to be the tia on duty. The one that hears their stories, adventures, and complaints. To hold them when mommy's hand are full. To love them through rough patches. And to rejoice when they conqueror something great. But I will say, I'm glad I am not the only tia all the time. This is a tough job for one gal! ;)

Happy Birthday! (Lots in Feb.!)

Dear AH,

While browsing photos of us, I couldn't help but find this one particularly interesting to me. None of the others seemed to sum you and I up quite so well. And, your face is slightly adorable. So I had to chose this one! :)

Well AH, ITS YO BIRTHDAY! :) I hope you have felt loved, and blessed, and cherished and celebrated to all heights this weekend! Its been fun doting on you, because you're so easy to dote on!

Hottie, I love you very much! And I am so thankful that I get to have you as an example in my life. I learn so much from you every single day: how to be an adult daughter, what to do with a screaming baby, how to clean the fan blades, how to make tutus. You teach me how to be tender to the Father, and how to make sure mom and dad have my heart. You teach me what it means to love with out question, and how to give of yourself, and then keep giving. You've taught me the grace of keeping my mouth shut, and my hands open. You have taught me how to laugh at mistakes and dance like a white girl. You've taught me how to share my heart (Carazon a carazon? :)) and how to trust the right people.

You are my best friend...and I get to have you as a sister...AND a sister in Christ?! How did I get to be so blessed??


Happy birthday my beautiful sister!

Que Dios te bendiga mi hermana amada, hoy, y mañana, y siempre!

~MW

A year in Review:

This has been one of those years, where I look back on it, and I have one thought: "I wouldn't trade it, but God, please never give it to me again!"

This year, like any, had its ups and downs. But I feel like these were on the dramatic/big side and thus felt like I've been on a roller coaster for the past 12 months. So hitting the big stuff:

(A snapshot from January)

January: If you recall this post, my year started off kind of rocky. By my own choices I found myself in the slumps by January. People talk about the new year as a "starting over" time, but I had never experienced it quite like this. In addition to starting off a little rocky, it was my final semester of school. I had worried my brain for months about finishing school and finding a job or taking classes and not being sure what was next, so January was bitter sweet. I went on my final youth retreat, and honestly, I don't remember much of it.

February: In February we journeyed to DC for AH's birthday. I enjoy trave

(DC birthday excursion)

ling a lot, so this was my highlight this month! We did a lot of walking around and eating of some amazing food! (Panas was the best for me!)The Little also had a birthday and turned 12, making me feel ancient.

March: Not a whole lot happened in March, except for the only "big" snow, EP's first anniversary and my oldest nephew's fourth birthday.

However, April began the busy season for me, and I feel like maybe that hasn't stopp

(Me and the birthday boy from March)

ed yet! My third nephew made his grand entrance into the world! How much love you can have for such a little person never ceases to amaze me! Also, I got the privilege of traveling to Philadelphia with the student pastor, his wife and one other student who just happens to be a good pal of mine. It was a unique experience to say the least. We kind of went as a "prep" trip for the missions trip that we took in June. We got to meet the pastor we'd be working with and see the church and area ahead of time, as well as tour the area we'd be staying in. The student pastor and his wife are from the area so they took us around to some of their favorite places, and it was fun seeing a local's point of view without a large group to tote around. I enjoyed the quality time with just a few others.

(Graduation with Ginger)

May: This was when things really started getting busy for me! I graduated in May! (Along side one of my dear friends! Which was such a blessing, since neither of us wanted to have the spotlight all to ourselves, and we had talked about this for years, both being homeschooled! :) After graduation, I spent a week back in DC with my sister's family. It was nice to get away from the norm and spend the extra time with her and my nephews! Only a few days later, I went to the beach with some friends. It's been kind of a tradition in my church for the juniors and seniors to get away for a few days towards the end of the school year. So off we went. I was a lobster. On a more solemn note, we lost a nephew to heaven this month. All that love you build up for a person and not meeting them. The suspense of waiting for Heaven to hold the little one is hard. It was not a fun or easy thing to pack on to such a busy time already. Although the season may have been busy, my Angel nephew is not forgotten and little Enoch Barnett, my other nephews and brothers are all waiting for us.

(Philadelphia skyline)

(Quince Princess)

In June I went back to Philadelphia for the missions trip and honestly, I love this city so much! In this month was one of the coolest and most special things I've ever done. Both DC and Philadelphia are special to me, for different reasons. The earlier part of June held a different, cool and amazing experience for me. One of my dear friends celebrated her 15th birthday. Although she was born here, she is El Salvadorean and had a traditional quinceañera. She had a big princess dress and a few of the traditional tokens or ceremonies of a quince. However, since she is a believer, she chose not to do a lot of them; she just chose a few that were special to her, instead of the extensive ceremony. We also have a large homeschool convention that we attend every June and the past several years I've volunteered in the children's program. It's about 22 hours of volunteer service, all said and done. And I love it! This past year especially I got to know a handful of girls that I've kept in fairly good contact with (facebook is good for this, as well as instagram).

(4th of July with the sisters)

By July I was somewhat worn out from a whirlwind two months that proceeded it. I was thankful for what felt like at the time, a dramatic halt in life. We had our one or two fourth of July celebrations and celebrated my nephew's second birthday. Other than that July was slower-paced for the most part.

August was much fuller. I went roller skating for the first time in YEARS! It was an absolute blast! I also sang with the Spanish church for a community event, finished my time with my youth group, went on a weekend conference with AH and spent a weekend at a friend's house with a few other girls. The five of us are pretty good friends, and all homeschooled. We range in ages from 15 to 19 and enjoy being together. My grandfather got really sick, and we stepped up our involvement with them. In pleasant weather, I go over once every other week and mow for them and my cousin cleans indoors.

(sibling picture from the beach, 2013)

The end of August/beginning of September came biting with a brain tumor. A unpleasant experience to the max. God's hand was seen all throughout it, though, and even still we can see how He worked; at the time it was little things, and looking back, bigger things. God has chosen to heal J this side of heaven and for that we are SO thankful! (You can read J's journey here) He is now undergoing radiation treatments and is halfway done! The hope is that the radiation kills off anything that was leftover after his second surgery and he will be officially cancer free. Keep praying for the Father to be glorified! Along with this, my family's yearly vacation had been planned for just days after his first surgery, and since there was a lot invested in the trip and enough people at home to take care of him, we went ahead and went. It was nice to be away for a while. When we got home we jumped in with two feet. Life was crazy, far from normal, and working forward with incredible speeds. The Little started 7th grade, and AH began homeschooling Yenny (who's quince we celebrated). "Madhouse" doesn't even begin to describe life at this point!

(My birthday dessert)

(Yenny, the Little and I "planning" fundraising)

In addition to being here for school, Yenny and I felt very burdened to help raise some funds for J. So when October rolled around we had our first two fundraisers! The first one we had nothing to do with, save Yenny singing. We held a benefit concert and raised far more than any of us had expected. A few short, crazy weeks later we had event #2 and held a dinner. (Too many people trying to plan! :) Oh well, both were blessed events!) In the weeks in between the two, Yenny and I (along with LOADS of help from other adults) spent a lot of time seeking donations from local businesses and even some bigger stores like Kroger) also, my family went apple picking and spent a day in the mountains. This was very nice and felt a bit like the calm before the storm! I also began nannying! Crazy month! But all too quickly, October drew to a close and I celebrated my 19th birthday! My sister made me lomo saltado (a Peruvian dish) and my mom made me these tasty little raspberry chocolate tarts. DELICIOUS.

(Gettysburg with the fam)

November rolled around and it was a bit of "big event let down". All of the sudden everything I had spent my whole month pouring into was over. I got to go to a Chris Tomlin concert with my oldest sister, her husband and their oldest. It was a blast! Later on we traveled to Pennsylvania for a weekend in Gettysburg and I got some bangs to change up my look a littl
e. Towards the end of the month things got a little busy again with Thanksgiving, Black Friday (an actual event in my house), and a surprise birthday party for my oldest sister. This was one of the best/coolest Thanksgivings ever! I loved every second of the weekend!

(FINALLY!)

Although December is a fairly busy season, I didn't go to any Christmas parties or events this year. Even though I always look forward to it, I was thankful for my evenings to be mostly at home. I enjoyed family time in the Bible leading up to the birth of Christ, and making an ornament for different key events along the way. I did, however, get to meet up with a friend that I have been talking to via social media for over two years. She's moved closer to me, and so we've already enjoyed a closer-distance friendship!

That brings me up
to this week. We spent Christmas morning here at home with just us five. We were then joined by EP and MrP. And a little later on for brunch by my mom's family. In the afternoon we had Christmas with Dad's side of the family and then we left Thursday morning to spend the weekend with Meg and her family. It was nice, overall, even if somewhat chaotic.

To look back on the year is both good and odd to me. I started this post, almost with a "WOE is me" attitude, thinking "Oh SO much has happened!" And a lot has, but not nearly as much as I thought had. It feels like a lot, and of course there are things I chose not to make public that will stay in my heart to ponder. However overall, God was with me through all the ups, downs, ins and outs of my year, and for it I now look at the year and can say "Its ok." Am I making any sense??? :)

Merry Christmas from the Sibs at National Harbor!

God has brought me a loooong way since last December, and for that I am most thankful. I'll just briefly say a few things He's taught me:

~To trust Him, and His unfailing will. No matter what circumstances I face.
~We often see our circumstances with a very distorted view of flawed human analysis, seeing things as far worse than they really are.
~God has my parents as my parents for my benefit, and to talk to them is a greater blessing than I had ever imagined possible before this year.
~The Father works ALL things together for the good of those who LOVE Him!

May each of you have a blessed NEW YEAR with all things bright and new!

Blessings to each of you!

~Mal

The story of a Ginger friend

Once upon a time, two little girls grew up together. They went to each others' houses a lot, and spent the night often. They got to do a lot of cool things together:

They went to a horse farm when they were little. And one time, they were pirates:

They were very apart of each others' lives. They had a pretty cool childhood together. When they got just a little older, they decided, "hey, we actually like being friends." As if they didn't already do a lot together, they started doing more and more together. They became apart of so much. One thanksgiving, they even spent the night with each other! These girls were inseparable!

Over the next few years they had some pretty cool adventures:

they got cool Indian shirts at a festival

they got to go to the zoo together!

oh and one time, they were ninjas for a while

they were free entertainment to their families, because they're just so funny

 

they made each other laugh, a lot!

they made messes...

...and new friends

and then, they graduated...TOGETHER!

They're grown up now. (Note, not ALL grown up ;)) And that crazy red-headed girl is off following the greatest call of her life: making disciples. She will be leaving the country soon. She's been gone for a few months, training already, and the other girl misses her terrible. But more than all that missing, she is so proud of her. Because she can't imagine having all these wonderful memories with someone more amazing! This ginger is another sister. Loved by her family, and cherished by so many. They're still very dear friends, and skype once a week as time allows. But on the edge of adulthood, they see how the Father is working to use them best to His glory in different parts of the world. Although the girl is sad to see her friend leave for a time, she can't imagine her firey-haired, partner in crime doing anything less than EXACTLY what The Lord wants of her.

To follow this amazing gal's journey across the Nations, visit her blog.

I love you so much girl and I'm praying for you as you GO! :)

(Untitled Post)

It's one of those "nothing I have to say is remotely related to anything else I have to say, and thus I have no creative title to encompass it all" posts.

This past weekend, one of my best friends decided to take me out for my birthday and it was a great start to celebrating my birthday! (any reason to celebrate, right?) She took me to get my very first pedicure! (FELT WONDERFUL!) And then we tried on horrible looking formal dresses for the fun of it and then walked down to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory! It was absolutely delicious! Then we went to a friend's birthday celebration for just a little bit, and then went back to her house to watch the movie I got her older brother for his birthday last month! It was a great afternoon, and we really enjoyed just catching up! With my life, that hasn't happened much right now!

This week is major crunch time for me! We had out first official fundraiser on the 5th of this month, but this coming Saturday is the first one that M and I have planned. We're a combination of nervous and excited! We've had a lot of help from some ladies in our lives, and for them we are sooo very thankful and wouldn't be able to do any of this without them! (my very own AH being one of them!)

We decided early on, that since this fundraiser was coming from a Latino community that we should do some traditional food. Her mamma, being from El Salvador, and also being the one who was cooking picked our food. It's awesome having women so willing to help us! We began searching for some donations from different stores. After asking some local Latino markets, we were donated over 45lbs of JASMINE rice, 40lbs of chicken and money enough to purchase the rest of the food! God has met every need we have had, and gone over and above our wildest dreams and prayers! M and I are completely floored. Even when we have despaired about different things, someone steps up and helps us out, and we are so grateful. We see the Father's hand heavy upon this event and cannot wait to see how He works on Saturday!

In other news, I got a part-time nannying job! She's a beautiful little nine week old beauty! She has my whole family wrapped and I love it! She's a very good baby, and even when she isn't feeling well isn't ugly about it, but just pathetic, which makes those cuddles extra special. She had her shots today, and was not a very happy little lady, and still was sweet. This job is perfect for this season in my life, because I get to stay at home, and it's only three afternoons a week. So I am able to be apart of this family and an active member of what is going on. (Also super helpful for all the planning I've been doing for fundraising!)

My life is pretty much consumed with these things, and we'll see what else God has in store. I've enjoyed serving the body of Christ this way, and wouldn't trade on second of crazy for anything!

Look for pictures soon! :) (And a finished blog!)

Best Friend:

Dear best friend,

You are not one person, you are many. And you are all so dear to my heart!

You are married with three beautiful, wonderful boys.

At least for a season, I get to see you every single day. And I love that!

People say I'm walking in your shadow, but I think I'm just following one of the greatest leaders I know.

You're growing up so fast, and I'm loving the little teenager you're becoming!

Best friend, I'm glad you're not one person. That would be so boring. I'm so glad I have such different people I get to love so very, very much!

You live in another state. (But I'm ridiculously proud of you for where you are!)

You are my El Salvadorean mini-me, and my part-time room mate.

You're my partner in crime. Your house is literally my second home..

Best friend, I wouldn't trade you, any of you, for the world. Thank you for being there for me, with me and by me for everything. I love you all and thank God for you frequently!

~Mal

Day 5-Your siblings

(L-R: Meg, EP, AH, Me, Bean)

It's not often that we're all together like this. With two married, one working, a senior and a bean, it's not often we get to have an age-order, all of us together picture made. But huzzah! In July we had the opportunity to have this one taken :) 

Before I begin, understand that my family has strange nicknames, and so I call everyone what I call them in person. I kid you not, it's how life goes ;) 

I tried, but to no avail to locate a picture with me and each sibling. So I'll be doing this differently than planned :)

(My oldest brother, Theo, 3yr old nephew, Beetoe, 1yr old
Pokey, and oldest sister, Meg, Spring 2012)

This sweet part of my family lives way too far away! The whole family is praying them home, but we are also keeping in mind that God's timing is best. :) 

Theo works hard and is very successful in what he does! Both he and my other brother have kept the focus eternal and God has blessed them with good names! (As a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches) 

Meg is a stay at home mommy and takes very good care of those two sweet boys! She's an incredible young woman, and someone I look up to greatly :) We're a lot a like, and that makes it fun cos we're both the last ones to get something, and have each other to laugh with! 

They attend a large church near their home, and have some pretty awesome worship, I think! :) 

(My next oldest sister, EP and her husband WonTon {(Yes,
WonTon, like the Chinese dumpling}), July 2012 )

 EP and WonTon were married this past March. It was a lovely wedding and was them to a T, simple, country, and antique! 

WonTon is a hardworking carpenter with his own custom carpentry business. He's so much like my dad, which means we get along pretty well! :) He's a protective nature, and having him and Theo around has been odd compared to just sisters :)

EP works at a specialty dog shoppe and spa. Eventually she too will be a stay at home wife and mom :) She's being patient on the Lord until He makes it clear for them to make that change in their lives. EP is so much like mom, and growing up, it was like having two mothers. She's always been a mother hen, and so protective ;) But we love her so much, and wouldn't change a thing about her.

They attend a Calvary chapel near their home, and are pretty involved with their neighbors who have turned out to be great friends!

(Me and AH on 10/29/2012)

This is AH. Older than me by 5 years, she's the sister closest to my age. We're not alike, almost at all, but that's why we're so close. In public I'm almost always mistaken as the older sister, because AH has always been content for me to take charge of a situation. She stands beside me and quietly agrees with whatever I say and thus is often taken as my younger sister. But I assure you, she's older ;) (And far more mature! I pull out her younger side ;))

She's a stay at home nanny! She keeps two children full time, and one half day. We love her working here, because we get to be so apart of her life. Her "kids" have become a part of our lives, and we love them so much!

She attends a Spanish speaking church, and teaches several of the young men English once a week. (This is the ESL class I've been helping with! It's so overwhelming sometimes, I admire her doing this for one whole year now! :)) It's been fun getting to know a new group of people with her, and who knew all those years of Spanish class would come so handy? ;)

(Bean and I, September 2012)

 Last up on the siblings list is Bean. Ohhh Bean...She keeps us on our toes!

She's in 6th grade, and having her in my youth group has been so odd! She's still supposed to be the 6 year old with missing teeth on the front row of children's choir. But alas, she's now growing into a lovely young woman of Christ!

She loves animals and creating little poems and playing with Legos. Its so fun to watch her grow up and cling to childhood at the same time. It's a delicate balance, and she's mastered it well :)


~MadaLee

Family addition!!

Please welcome to the family, Squirt! 

(Excited brothers, showing you their new baby :))

 

~One happy Auntie 

"Sarah Promises"

I'm actually stealing an original quote from my sister, AH.

We are currently attempting to read Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God for our morning studies. The very first chapter was talking about how God doesn't give us a road map, and that He reveals to us His plan, step by step. He gives us enough light for the next step, and expects us to take it. If he revealed everything at the get-go, we would live by sight, and what we had been shown, than by faith, and what was to come in HIS timing.

I think a "Sarah Promise" is two-fold. One: We try to take matters into our own hands and make them happen. And Two: It will come.

AH was talking about how, often we do a bit of a "Sarah". Where we take matters into our own hands. When we are shown what is to come, we try to handle it ourselves. Sarah took matters into her own hands and set out to get that son God promised her. She disrupted the family God had set up with her and Abraham (at the time Abram), and added an Egyptian slave, Hagar. Between Hagar's son Ishmael, and Sarah's later son, Isaac, two great nations arose. At the time all Sarah saw was the face of two boys, both fathered by her husband. Did she see two conflicting nations? Did she look into their eyes and see the roles they would play in building two peoples that hated each other? Surely not. Sarah, didn't know what was in store. (At least, I'm pretty sure she didn't) But the point is, she was told "you're going to have a son" and when it didn't come in her timing, she took matters upon herself and set out to make it happen. To this day, there are now two opposing nations. Wow! I bet more than anything she had no idea all this would come of that one mistake.

The second part, "It will come", is about God's timing. I call this a "Sarah Promise", because, I believe we can know God's promises, but we don't always know His timing. In fact, I'm not sure we do very often at all. This kind of "Sarah Promise" could also be called a "Noah Promise" (He was told to build the arc, and the rains didn't come for another 100 years.) a "Job Promise" (God promised to never leave him or forsake him, yet Job lost everything.) an "Israelite Promise" (God was actually silent to them for 400 years before sending Moses!)

I claim "Sarah Promises", because I believe God has promises for me. I believe that He won't leave me. That what He's asked of me is for His good purpose. I believe that He has perfect timing. And it's out of my control. Just because He promised it in winter, doesn't mean it will come in spring, but it will come.

Think about the Israelites for a moment. For generations of 400 years, they sent up prayers to be delivered. God heard them. He told Moses He had. He was going to deliver them. He promised it. But a lot of those generations never left Egypt. Did God abandon His promise? No. Did God forget them? No. Did God follow through on His perfect timing? Yes. Yes He did.

Claim the promises God has ordained for you before time and space came to be, and remember, they may not come how and when you think they will, but they will come. Depend upon Him. His will. And His purpose for your life. Don't try to take short cuts or make it happen your way. God has it perfectly planned out, so that everything that happens will perfect you for that promise. He's given you what He has to make you just right to fulfill His promises in you.

Claim. Believe. Hope. Follow.

~MadaLee

Big World

Dear Small One,

You are not so small any more. Every day your body, mind, vocabulary and interests grow.

Last night I watched you as you stood wide-eyed in a room full of people who seem eons older than you. I remember being there. Everyone seems so much cooler and older, and everything they do is just worlds more awesome. Surely their lives are more fun. I promise you, I'm there now, and you'll enjoy it when you get there, but for now, enjoy being young. We're nothing any more special than you.

You stood chewing on your lip, and keeping a fist on your face. Trying to act chill, but trying to figure it all out and be excited too. Little one, things will change a lot in the next 7 years. A lot. Who you are now, you won't be in 3 years, and in 6 years you will be very different from the person three years before.

As much as it hurts to believe the validity of this statement, be ready for friends to come and go. Its hard to make friends sometimes, so be willing to be a friend to anyone. Don't hold back in your friendships, but know that you might have to give them up. Sometimes things change. People change. Jobs change. Addresses change. Dynamics change. But with every friendship, know that me and your other sisters will always be around. We're not going anywhere. Don't discourage when people seem resistant to your friendship. Just always be ready.

Always be excited. Don't let people give you grief about finding joy in the small things. Laugh when you find something funny. Laughter is contagious, and it makes others around you happy.

Skip around the room. Dance when you hear music. Sing in the shower. Play on the floor. Don't be up on the latest actors and song. Embrace your family; you're stuck with us. Keep your heart open to the things of the Lord.

Start every day with a smile. End every day with a sigh.

My dear girl, live life to the fullest in Christ.

I love you very much!

~MadaLee

Happy Birthday Lina!

Dear Lina,

It's been a crazy 12 months for both of us. 12 months ago, you and JuanTon were officially courting (ok maybe in the next few weeks...but still..). 12 months ago, you were a best friend in a dark time for me. In the past twelve months you said .::yes::. and .::I do::. I still get so giddy when I think, "whoa...she's actually married!" It's crazy to think of all the many many events that have happened between your last birthday and this one. I don't know that I would have said all that has happened, was gonna happen. But to day it's made you who you are. A Mrs. That's a pretty awesome birthday present, I gotta say ;). Enjoy your first birthday as a married lady. I love you and hope your day is truly special!

~Half~Pint