Oh birthdays! I turned 19 yesterday and it was my first birthday away from home. I will be perfectly honest.. I wasn't a fan. It didn't feel much like a birthday. I'm beginning to realize that getting older isn't much fun. Not that I am really that old but the whole concept of getting old. I can still remember a lot of my birthdays when I was young because I used to love them. I saved all of my birthday cards from age 5. Crazy how quickly age can come up on you. My favorite birthdays were the birthdays where I was surrounded by my family. Whether it was on Bluefield, Gottes Lane, or Conestoga. it was always more memorable when my siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles were all around. Everyone crammed together in Bluefield eating cake and ice cream are beloved memories. Now we're all old and spread out. It makes me sad sometimes knowing that we aren't the little punks were once were but that now we are just big punks. Some of my favorite gifts ever were from my Grams. She bought me the cutest one piece I think I have ever seen. I remember when I opened it I loved it and put it on right away. I got rollerblades that same year and I rode around the codasac in nothing but my bathing suit. I won't ever forget it. She also got me a Mary Engelbreit box that I keep all of my keepsakes in. They are gifts that I will keep and cherish forever. So now I'm 19 and not wanting to get any older. I remember telling my mother "I just want to get my license, turn 16 and never get any older." Wouldn't that be nice? I got some great gifts this year! My parents got me a Zeppelin T and a North Face jacket. First ever of the two. Erin gave me 15 bucks, for any poor college kid that is a fabulous gift. I'm grateful for such a great family.. and I missed them yesterday. Next year my birthday wish will be for us all to be together on all of our birthdays. Its just more fun! Here is to my last year of officially being a teenager.