a journey through life

I wanted to take just a moment to reflect on the past 26 years...yup that's right. I am now 26 years old. I am no longer in my early or even mid-twenties! I am officially in my late 20's and on the downhill slide to 30. I still don't know how I feel about this yet. In your early twenties you can get away with stupid things, because let's face it...you are still young and not as smart as you think you are. By 25 you SHOULD know better, but still people don't expect much. By 26 you are in your late twenties and are now expected to "know better" You are a grown-up. I don't feel "grown-up"! I am now going to take a look back over my life and pick out my favorite moments in the past 26 years to see if it equals "Grown-Up"!

I was born (pretty great moment) on June 7, 1985 on the HOTTEST day on record for June7,  in Chandler, Arizona. It was a steaming 117 degrees that wonderful day. My mother and dad couldn't decide on a name for sweet me, so my Aunt Jerry Ann chose my name! Pretty special :)

We are jumping ahead now to roughly 5 years old. Lot's happened this year, but the one that sticks out most is being in Sunday School and playing with the kitchen set in the classroom. I yanked open the little refrigerator door and bam, next thing I remember is that I was in a Dr. office getting stitches in the top of my head. A GIANT seashell was on top of that sweet little play refrigerator and it fell and cracked my head open. Skip forward a few weeks...we are now MOVED across the country to Pennsylvania and my mommy is cutting stitches out of the top of my head. I think.

Moving forward nearly a year...I now have a brother...enough said.

Very shortly after Coleman is born we moved to Texas. Arlington to be exact. In the time we lived in Arlington, I pushed my middle sister off my bike and broke her front tooth, she still holds a grudge, I have one of the first surprise parties I can remember, and I remember loving my teacher! I don't remember her name but I remember really liking her!

Ok jumping ahead a few more years...I am 12. We live in Waco and I am visiting Victoria's life church for a special production. I accepted Jesus that night. I am not sure I fully understood that, but I knew I was safe with Him in my life! During this same year, I got another brother...in law that is, I became an aunt for the first time AND we moved back to Arizona.

Moving up to the teens...I was a boring child...accept that I had a smart mouth and used it often. My mother spanked me when I was 16..I am serious. I think she laughed too. I know I did as well as my sisters. I was already taller than my mom by this point, so this was a very funny moment! My parents used to ask me to leave the house. I am a homebody and would rather hang out at home with my mom then go out and do something stupid. I did get a job when I was 16 so that helped some. I have worked ever since then.

High School graduation...nearly 500 in my graduating class. My last name was Adams...I was 2nd to last to graduate...you think someone made a mistake??? Yea...they did. There was a big goof!

Now I am 20. My parents got divorced this year...Not a bad thing really. It has worked out OK. My mom moved back to Texas...and guess who followed her...that's right. ME! I did rekindle a lost friendship this year. My sweet friend Taryn from high school! We started talking and emailing a lot when I moved back to Texas Early twenties were filled with memories and laughter and some heart break. But, it made me stronger. And, I am thankful for all the good times!

22. 2007. Taryn, my friend from above, lost her battle with a very aggressive ovarian cancer. She was 23. Just a couple months older than me. Taryn doesn't know this, but she changed my life at her funeral. She had a strong faith. She loved deeply and told people how important they were. She was confident she would be with the Lord and she even told her mom that before she passed. Her funeral wasn't a sad event for most. I realized that day that what was missing in my life was a deep unconditional love. Not an earthly. A heavenly love. I realized that day what it meant to live for Jesus. I came home from her funeral a changed person. I went to church the VERY next day. I prayed hard to God for the years lost between He and I. I vowed to rededicate my life and make a difference in someone's life the way Taryn did in mine. She may have lost her life, but she gave me mine back. I have grieved over the loss of my friend, but I rejoice today with the absolute with out a doubt fact that I will see her again someday.

Also, when I was 22 I met a guy named Bo Faulkner at church. I didn't care for him very much. In fact we agreed we probably couldn't really even be friends. Lots of complications at that time. God has a real sense of humor though! During a hard time in my life, the only person that came to my mind to talk to was...Bo. The very person who I really couldn't stand. But, I called him up and we met for coffee at Starbucks. he helped me get through that time with lots of laughter and goofy smiles. We talked a lot and started hanging out. We realized after a month or so of this that there was something there. Something neither of us would have guessed could be there. So we started quietly dating.

Jumping to my 24th birthday. Bo left that morning for Colorado. I would see him in a week. Or so I thought. Oh I also had the 2nd surprise party of my life this birthday. I was mad. I have grown to dislike surprises, but that is another blog all together! Oh back to Bo...so I did the normal Sunday routine; I went to church where everyone was SO nice to me, I went home, hung out with my fam and got ready for my birthday dinner with Jenna and Brenton. (Our best friends) Jenna picked me up and we started and extraordinary scavenger hunt. All the while we talked and laughed and Jenna stressed that this was really my present from Bo. He set up the scavenger hunt as a fun something to do since he was on his way to Colorado and couldn't be there with me. I went along laughing and thankful for friends and Bo who put so much into my silly birthday! The last stop was at the arboretum in Hewitt...I got out of the car expecting to find my gift. And, boy oh boy did I. I found Bo waiting for me. I was stunned. I didn't know what to say. So of course I did what I do best...I cried. HA. I had no idea what was going on. Bo talked and I laughed and I cried and then he sang to me, and then it hit me. He was going to ask me on my birthday to marry him! Remember that sense of humor God has, yea He was laughing big time this day! God's perfect plan was working out. On June 7, 2009, Bo asked me to be his wife. I of course said yes, and were married in 2010! 

25th birthday was spent in Colorado with the youth. It was a blast! I finally got to go and experience the week! I could have moved there.

Looking back over the years I guess I have determined that I have had a VERY full life to this point. Maybe it is true that we never grow up. We may get older, but we learn and grow each day. I am blessed with lots of friends and a family that loves me. My husband is not only the man I love, but my best friend. And, God...God has given me the unconditional overwhelming love I was searching for! He loves me through the bad and the good and will continue to love me until His plan for my life is full filled. He renews my spirit each morning and in times of doubt reminds me of His ever present love! I may not always be the person God would want, but He is always there with open arms to wrap around me and whisper His sweet words of love.

Maybe after all this 26 won't be so bad!