there's always room to celebrate

Today I am celebrating. Celebrating life. Celebrating people. I'm ever so thankful. I'm thankful to know the people I know. I'm thankful to be living the season I'm living. I am living a crazy God-adventure. Boy, I don't deserve it, but because of that I feel that much more thankful. Honored. Awestruck. Humbled. Happy. Yes, crazy happy.

For celebration one, it's my Ukki's (grandpa's) 90th birthday today. Oh, what a man! He's so faithful-in every way- and is still full of joy, life, and dedication. Dedication to Jesus, first and fore-most, then to our Mummu (grandma) after 63 years. And ever so dedicated and faithful to love and support us, his wild grandchildren. His life speaks of generosity and hard work. I think I take after his heart for Goodwill (or just second-hand stores), and I'm positive that I take after his LARGE heart for sweet treats and pastries! He has quite the stories to tell. What a life he has lived thus far. Oh, how I love this man. 

For celebration two, it's Kandice's 24th birthday today. And OH, what a girl! Seriously. She's so dear to my heart. From long distance friends (who learned how to party well together through short visits, phone dates, and letter writing), to close friends who are housemates now (who watch sunsets together, crash dance parties, and act like gangsters), we have decided that we're gonna be life long friends! What a fun journey of friendship. Unlike any. She is unlike any. Soon, and very soon, we are parting from each other once again, but that ain't the end. Back to phone dates, snail mail, and road trips to see each other. Until then, we're partying hard. Today, I am thankful she's alive and that I have the honor of knowing her. She's a light bulb of life!

 (sadly, we can't truly celebrate until later on because of busy life, but me and Hobes decorated her car late last night. This way her life can feel kinda like a party without being able to fully celebrate. Sometimes you gotta do silly things for the ones you love).

592. decorating people's cars on special occasions

For celebration three... well, I guess there isn't technically a celebration for three. But I have a very light tan line, which means that the sun is shining. That's a celebration! I'm embracing it fully. I made up my mind last week that Spring season is my favorite. For sure. At least until Fall comes back around and I change my mind, making Fall my favorite season. I can never truly decide what is actually my favorite, so I just celebrate them all in due time. Aside from Spring- deck furniture, late nights, sunglasses, tank tops, nightly sunset watching, tons of laughter- I guess I can celebrate the fact that I only have 32 days of high school left. I have a date put on the calendar for my graduation party. It feels unreal. I mean aside from the fact(s) that my senior picture is currently being printed at Costco, the invitations are being made (there's an elephant on them!), and I only have 56 days before I'm gone, it's as unreal as ever. It won't be real until I'm on the plane to Germany. And even then I'm not so sure. But like I always say... until then, I like here. I'm wearing my sandals from Panama, and I am celebrating today. 

You should do the same!

(this shows my obsession with sunsets... here's just a few of them put into a collage. ha!)