I was 16 with an open heart

And there it goes. Another birthday come and gone. But I can easily say it was the best birthday I have ever had. Being surprised with my friend from Florida only started the great joy I would receive this past weekend. I was blindfolded and taken to an unknown place but was soon suddenly face to face with my wonderful friend that I hadn't seen in almost a year. I still can't believe something so big and special was surprised just for me. Showing Bradley Austin wouldn't be complete without delicious Kerby Lane breakfast, some home slice pizza to make your heart happy, and some sweet Amy's ice cream to top it all off. As our day came to a close with a hammocking adventure in the rain my heart was more than full; it was overflowing with joy. Little did I know I would have another surprise waiting for me. While doing the last fixes for the party my sweet sweet friends started to trickle in and that's when Emily (a.k.a. The best person you will ever meet) walked through the door embracing me with the biggest hug I could ever imagine. I couldn't believe that my friends would surprise me with two of my most favorite people in the world all in one day. Laughs were had and friendships were made as the night went on and I still could not comprehend just how blessed I was. It wasn't until my wonderful father told me "You really have some great friends Reya. You picked them well." That I realized just how amazing they all truly are. With a lake weekend following the night I couldn't have been happier to spend more time with the people I loved. It was time well spent playing games, tubing till our elbows were all cut up, and being goofy all the while. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend filled with the most amazing people. I was finally reunited with my little sunshine Eliza bear and I couldn't even contain the happiness she brought me. How was it that I could have all this in one weekend? But everything came back to my incredible best friends. I will never be able to describe the love I have for these Jesus loving people I get to call my best friends. No one had ever made me feel as loved as they did this weekend and for that I am incredibly thankful. There is no one I would have rather wanted to spend my birthday with than these fools. I love the life I have and the people who can instantly brighten my day. I can honestly say I don't know what I would go without their constantly encouraging words and compassionate hearts. 16 treat me well. Can't wait to see what 17 has to offer with the best friends I could have ever asked for.

                                                 

The Rest Is Still Unwritten

As the school year begins to come to a close, one thing always comes around; high school soccer banquet. A time when some of the last laughs as a team are shared, way too many pictures are taken, and tears are shed as seniors speak about how fast high school went by. Year after year you keep getting older yet you never think that someday YOU are going to be the one who is up at the podium crying your eyes out just wishing for a little bit more time. 

Realizing that this would be "the crew's" last year that we would all be living in the same town we knew we had to do something to make the most of the short time we have left. So the six of us decided that we would make our own sisterhood of the traveling pants to make sure we would ALWAYS be together some way. Today marked the first meeting of the traveling pants which wouldn't be complete without candles, junk food, and of course, the pants. Beginning with a beautiful opening prayer and coming up with our own rules for our sisterhood tonight marked only the beginning of something that will always hold us together. 

We may not have much time left together in this town we have all called home for so long, but we are determined to live our lives to the fullest this last year we have been given. We may not know what crazy twists and turns life will take us on but we know that we will always be "the crew". Because after all, the rest is still unwritten.