“Soo, this is what it feels like to be 18...”

Today, I turned 18 years old.  I was going to post about my day tomorrow, but I’m not tired right now, so I thought I would go ahead and post about my wonderful birthday while it’s still fresh on my mind.  For starters, my whole day was filled with lots of family and amazing friends; I made so many memories today.

This morning, I woke up to my beautiful friend Anna singing to me (I think she was trying to be my alarm clock).  She spent the night last night after our second exercising adventure (Katie, Anna, and I have been jogging for past week together) and since we were all going to church together in the morning, it ended up working out for her to just stay the night over here.  It was a great way to start the day to say the least.

Another special thing that happened today was that Daddy took the whole family out for lunch at Chili's after church.  For those that don't know, it's one of my all time favorite restaurants ever.  I was super excited to go there on my birthday.

Oh, and I couldn't leave without the entire staff singing "happy birthday" to me. Haha. I do have to say that it was well worth the whole restaurant staring at me at once because I got a free chocolate sundae. Who doesn't like free chocolate?? After lunch, we headed back to the house and I had a very relaxing afternoon sitting in the backyard reading and watching the rest of the family work on a little project on the back porch.  I also got several birthday calls and Facebook messages.  We had a few errands to run before Word of Life tonight, so we left the house earlier than normal this afternoon (and got to church earlier), but that was perfectly okay because I got to hang out with my beautiful and very awesome friend Rebecca for a little while we waited for everyone else to get there.  

She had mentioned that she would be at the church earlier tonight if I wanted to come and hang out with her for a little while, so I’m glad it ended up working out.  She also had a “surprise” for me waiting in the car when I first got there so before we did anything else, we all headed back outside (Rebecca, her brother Luke, and myself) to their car to find out what she was so excited about.  Haha.  Honestly, I had no clue what that girl was going to bring out of the car and of course, as if I wasn’t already in suspense, she told me I had to close my eyes before she handed it to me.

Anyway, she gave me the most awesome gift basket filled with all sorts of things that reminded her of me.  It was so special!  Thank you again, Becca.

 I was then serenaded by them on the way back inside the church as they sang "happy birthday". Can't forget that little detail of the evening. ;)

If that wasn’t special enough, everyone else kept singing to me throughout the night, gave me sweet cards, birthday hugs, and they all made sure to wish me a happy birthday before I left.   

We had A.C.T.S. (at church then somewhere) tonight so I got to hang out with everyone even longer as we ate supper at one of the WOL family's house.  Who doesn't love when you get a group of people together and laugh until your sides hurt?  That was our group tonight and it was so much fun.  I can't wait until I get to spend a week with these awesome people when we go to camp this summer.  It's going to be great.
























I thought all the festivities were over for the night after we got home, but that definitely wasn't the case.  As I walked into the kitchen, I found these beautiful flowers, cards, and gifts from Katie, and the rest of the family sitting on the kitchen table just waiting for me.  

 

 

P.S. These are all the lovely cards I received in the mail from the Love and Envelope Birthday Club.  Several of the girls even sent me little gifts or discount coupons to their Etsy shops with their sweet cards.  Thank you all so much!!   

So there you have it.  That was my 18th birthday in detail...  

Goodness gracious, I feel so loved right now.  I'm serious.  My friends and family are amazing and I'm so very thankful for each and everyone right now.  Thank you all for making it so special!!!  Love you all.