It's pretty cool...

... to be loved by so many
... to be in a room with friends and feel like you are with your family
... to see God working in so many ways you can't even begin to count
... to look back on 25 years and see where you have been and dream of where you are going
... to be offered a zucchini
... to be overwhelmed by the amount of love such a small group can show
... to break open the pinata (or at least get a good swing at it!)
... to be loved by those who love me.

After I got home tonight from a "surprise" party (I put it in quotes as it was an informal, "By the way we are having a party" surprise), I went back through my cards and reread them. I got some tears in my eyes as I had the realization of just how much I am loved. There are some in BG that I have considered family for some time now. We have always had fun together and celebrated with each other, but you view it from a different point of view when you are the one being celebrated. I am thankful for the blessing that each individual friendship has been in my life. Strong, positive examples have been given to me to learn from and live out... my only hope is that I can pass on these same examples to others for the rest of my life.

Thank you guys! For all that you are...