Yesterday was my 26th birthday. As Joshua pointed out (to correct a friend who wished me a happy 26th year), I am actually entering my 27th year of life. Nice. As if I wasn't wigged out about inching toward 30 already. Anyway...

I was thinking the other day about my 26th year of life and trying to outline the big things that have happened. Among other things, I managed to get a Master's Degree and a U.S. Passport. Pretty good things. The passport is both easier to get and more portable, and at this point in life, more useful. I already have a visa stamped in it and it's just waiting for adventure. My Master's, on the other hand, is still rolled up and tied with a ribbon and it just sits on my bookshelf waiting to be framed so it can be hung on the wall and not really used for much other than a trump card when I'm trying to convince Joshua that I'm right. :o)

In addition, I've acquired some great friends, a lot of useless junk and more life experience, that has helped to make me more full and real and human. Some of the life experience has been awful, heart-breaking, knots in your stomach stress and heartache and business. I had to say goodbye to dearest Grammy Bear. I had to scrape all of my fortitude to finish a thesis while saying goodbye. I had to learn to listen to God as he lead and guided me through some of my most difficult challenges. I've had to learn better how to hold onto important relationships with friends and family, despite the distance and hustling of life that separates us. I've learned how to be more open, more honest, more humble, and more confident. I also learned how to make pie.

All the while, I've plucked the occasional gray hair and looked the other way.

So, when I look back on my 26th year, I think I have to say that the scales fall on the side of the good. It was a hard year, but I came out of it stronger and more real. Bring on the 27th....