I'm 25! (from Miss to Ms. officially)

I planned to just stop by and do a quick post this morning, I didn't think that ILYT had actually posted a BDay message here. Tear.

I can't ever seem to get up early on days when I have to work, but this morning I got up bright and early! I replied to some text messages (yeah, I'm sure yall hate me for that), read some scriptures, spent some time in prayer and reflection, then opened my birthday cards (which literally left me boo-hooing).

I'm so excited about this next chapter. Many people look at a birthday as just another day. That's never been me. Birthdays have always been a big deal-usually because it meant a big party. But now (though it still very much means celebration) my birthday has new meanings and implications. At 25 I feel that I am literally turning another page and starting to write that next chapter. This one different from ones before. This one opens with prayer and thanks for grace and mercy and thanks for wonderful people. This one includes a focused goal. This one includes strengthening relationships with those close to me. This one is different.

My birthday has been great so far. I've gotten great gifts and had a wonderful dinner with friends last night. Small dinners with people who aren't socially awkward are pretty much one of life's best gifts. We laughed all night. We even went to Red Velvet for cupcakes. My dad's card said to "spend my birthday with people you care about and that care about you." And that is exactly what I did.

I'll leave with something else I know for Sure:

14. When People Show (or Tell) You Who They Are, Believe Them.

We all reveal our true selves in one way or another-actions, words, facial expressions, etc. Some of us are masters of disguise, however, and manage to deceive others about who we truly are. Eventually though, your true self will show. So it is important that we take people for who they are when they show that to us. We can't idealize them to being someone else and box them into that role. People will be who they are. Yes, people change. But some things are a part of a person and you have to accept that or choose not to.

I know we usually talk about this in a negative context, but it's applicable to all relationships. Your friends will show you how much they care. Believe them. Your family will show you how much they love you. Believe them. People will show you how much they genuinely support you. Believe them. Yes, we live in a society where people are only looking out for their star player. But, there are people who still care about others and when they show who they are in your life..believe them...cherish them.

25 Things I Know For Sure

6. friendship is not measured by wins or losses, distance, or time.

7. i have truly been blessed to have genuine friendships with a select group of people. | my inner circle challenges me to be better, accepts me at my best and worst, and is open and honest with me. these relationships have only gotten better with time and i know that they, still have so much ahead of them

People that "know" me, know that I only have a few people that I actually consider friends. Most people live somewhere between purgatory and acquaintance in my book. But there are a select group of people who I call friend because some it's an identifiable word to describe who they are to me. Truthfully, though, that inner circle of mine consists of people who are more than friends to me. These aren't people that I have to see or talk to on the regular-because our relationship transcends time. These are the people that can call me 24/7 and vice versa. These are the people I call when I see something funny. They don't keep score. They "get" me. The accept my imperfection but challenge me to do better. They are the people that I GCHAT with when I can't talk for fear of nothing but cries coming out. They are my girls, they are my guys. They know when I'm "on one" and they tell me. The love and support me. They are truly awesome people in their own right. I'm actually the luckiest girl in the world to have them so close to me. They make me better.

25 Things I know For Sure

I got my Mixbook in the mail today and it's wonderful. I used the Mixbook tool to make my "25 Things I Know For Sure" montage as a gift to myself for my 25th birthday. It's really meant to be something that I can look back at years from now and see where I was today (much like this blog will be years from now when ILYT and I look back and laugh hysterically).

I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from my book in the days leading up to my birthday. It'll give you a chance to know me more...as well as those things that I know for sure.

With the exception of numbers 1-4 in the book there is no real order to any of the other things. They are random...a lot like me... So I will share #1 with you today because it is how I started the book and it is definitely one of the most important things that I've come to know

1. God Loves Me

Now love is one of those funny things. It can't be easily defined by a few set of words or actions. It just-is. Some of us know it when we see and and others of us define it by what it is not. For me...it's something that I know when I see it or know when I feel it. I know that God loves me because I can point to times that my actual prayers have been answered. Those secret prayers that no one knew about but me, He heard and answered. (this isn't to say that unanswered prayers suggest that God doesn't love, because I know that the things we go through are to build us and challenge us in our lives). I know that God loves me because I can point to times where my life could have ended but was spared with little or no harm at all..and those are just the times I know about. Who knows how many times our lives have been spared because we took an alternate root, or someone swerved just in time, or we payed attention to that little voice telling us not to do something. I know God loves me because he has continuously placed me in places where I can be nurtured and grow spiritually. In every place I've lived, I have been drawn to a church where my spirit is edified and I am pushed to grow closer to Him. Finally, I know that God loves me, because he has surrounded me with so many people at love me without condition, pray for me, care for me, support me, criticize me (constructively), challenge me to be a better person, encourage me, and pour into me. I can not fathom what it must be like to be a person that does not like people, or one who doesn't have friends, or a strong family bond. I am thankful that God chooses to use people to show His love for me.