Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me! I usually don't really want to draw attention to myself intentionally...on purpose....on my birthday. However, I have been feeling some "stuff" today that I wanted to share and wanted to document.

My grandpa (Papa) called me today to wish me a happy birthday. It is adorable that he has started calling everyone on their birthday. He is just a smile on my face. He is always loving, witty, cute and sweet all at the same time. He said something to me today that I have been telling everyone about and I think I keep doing so because it is probably something that affected me, especially today on my birthday. In Papa's true fashion, he asked me how I was feeling being one year older, and after I told him that I didn't mind being one year older-he told me that he doesn't get one year older anymore, he gets one year "closer". I got after him for even mentioning that his time may be getting closer. I seriously wouldn't know what I would do without him around. I know that it is inevitable, but I will miss him when it does happen. However, after he said that, I thought a lot about me being one year older. I always look forward to my birthdays. Not because of the attention, maybe a little for the cake, but mostly because I really do enjoy each year more than the last. This year has been a year full of more challenges than I would have even thought possible-let alone more than I thought I could survive! So how could I even fathom this being a better year than the last? With that, my Grandpa's comment about being one year "closer" means a lot to me this year. My Grandpa intended to refer to it as closer to being gone physically. For me, I would like to think about it as being one year closer to who I would like to be. One year closer to who my Heavenly Father would have me be. One year closer to knowing who I am and where I am going. One year closer to knowing my Savior in a more intimate way. So today on my birthday I have been given some amazing gifts from those that I love. I have received some wonderful words of Birthday wishes. But after thinking long and hard about what my Grandpa said, the best birthday gift that I felt I got today was when I decided that I am proud of who I am and who I am becoming and for that, I am grateful for the challenges (gifts) that have come to my doorstep to mold me and help me become one year closer to who I am. Here's to 36 (plus) more years of learning and growing!