Twenty-First

The most precious people <3

The air is crisp and quiet, only the whir of snow flakes rushing against tree branches dares to whisperingly disturb the stillness. Thick, shimmery clouds of white cover every surface visible outside of my bedroom window. Taking it all in, I feel like a kid again - lost in the majesty of the wonderland before me. Part of me wants to dash wildly into the night and bury my hands into the perfect snow drifts; another part is simply too captivated to move, too awestruck to want to disturb this pristine scene. The latter part wins and I continue to gape giddily, my thoughts turning seamlessly from individual realizations of beauty to an indistinct stream of mushy glee, like a joyful faucet rushing through my brain and into my soul. Individual flakes twinkle against the glow of a lone streetlight shining through the trees. I shiver despite myself. I am not cold; I am invigorated, awakened, filled with ardor and bliss to overflowing. Tears of wonder, thankfulness, praise, and love well in my eyes as I continue to take in this sublime moment. In the stillness, amid the snowflakes' whispers, I can almost audibly hear God speaking softly to my soul, "Happy birthday, daughter. Happy birthday."

Today I turned 21. It was a marvelous birthday. I've run the gambit as far as birthday experiences go, and this was quite possibly the best ever. Some of my favorites are pictured above - my mom, step-dad, and little brother on the left, key lime pie in the middle, and my beloved on the right. After much needed soul-renewal in church this morning they all took me out to lunch at Provino's (save for the pie, of course. It joined us later). Once we'd eaten our fill and then some, we came back to the townhouse for my favorite dessert ever - key lime pie! After presents and hugs and a few sentimental tears, my family journeyed home. I adore them. Then James and I ventured to Target for Pokemon cards and out to Chili's for snack/dinner. A quick run to Blockbuster and then back to my place for TV (The Cape premiered tonight) and laughter. A winter storm had been forecast for all of Georgia since Friday, so James and I anxiously awaited the first snow flakes - and boy when they came they did so in abundance! We have about six inches here. It's glorious! Though my birthday is in January, I rarely get birthday snow. As a kid, the prospect of snow was just about the only thing that made a January birthday cool (you can only have an ice-skating party so many times...). The last time these precious flakes fell on my birthday was when I was turning nine. Now, eleven years later, it's happened again. And I did eventually charge boldly into the night, full of enthusiasm and delight, to play.