Happy 26th Birthday to Me!

26 years old. Wow. For the first year in many, I have lived purely for myself. I have learned more about who I am than I ever truly thought I’d uncover in a lifetime. The uniquely brilliant things that make me me are the uniquely brilliant things I understood as confusion for years. Things are starting to really “click” and I’m really loving how that feels.


This year, I stepped into myself. I closed a QUARTER CENTURY in my life and learned as many lessons as I could rush to learn literally up until the last second on full speed with like 400 horsepower 🤦🏽‍♀️ THANK YOU to any and EVERY SINGLE ONE of you who have made this year and my life thus far so special.

I have met so many incredible people this year, wow. I have grown in my relationships with so many of my friends and have rid my life of those who didn’t have my best interest. Both are good. I am so proud to say that so many people in my inner circle are INCREDIBLE. They are not only incredible humans, but they possess some of the most exceptional minds I believe this world has to offer. To be able to love each of them is a privilege I NEVER take for granted. I hope they always feel loved, valued, and appreciated by me.

Dad, Mom, Kaitlin & Kevin… You’ve done it again. Supported me through every single trial life has thrown my way. This year had more than any, and you never wavered. There is not a thing I wouldn’t do for you and I thank God every day that He hand-picked you guys for me. What He believed I was worthy of in being placed with each of you, I will truly never understand. I LOVE you.


To my Grandad… You’ll be 90 this year. I pray that we have many more years together but life is never guaranteed. I want you to know that you have been the most exemplary example, along with my grandmother, of what pure love looks like. Love with no expectations, limits, or stipulations. A love that is free with a lifetime supply- you never stop. I’m so thankful. I am so grateful that God has given you to me so long so that I can experience as much of your knowledge and wisdom as I can soak up. I love you. I won’t be naming my son Ernest, & no, Grandad- Ernie doesn’t sound better 🙄 but I still love you.


Last but definitely not least, Casey. My girl, we got through another one. SIDE BY SIDE we have survived again, another year we had absolutely no clue what fate had in store for us. Tyler might not be here in the flesh and while he will be your partner in this life and the next, may you forever know you have a partner for THIS life in raising Savannah in me. After all, nobody can tell exactly whose she is when we are all out together 😂 Thank you for holding me up when I’m falling and giving me an extra inch when I’ve already reached the top. You’re a pain in my ass but I wouldn’t trade you for the world. The right side of my brain, the yin to my yang. The mother who has experienced the toughest things parenthood has to offer in 5 short years and still has the ability to CRUSH IT raising the most incredible kid I know. I look up to you in so many ways. Let’s keep doing this best friend thing for life. Oh, always remember, if we get caught, you’re deaf and I don’t speak English 😉😘 Love you ❤️


25, I was terrified of you. I thought you might be the one to break me. Now I see you did break who I knew to be me & have given me glimpses of who I will become. I guess this is what life is, huh? That must be why they say we get better with age 🖤


Thank you all for all the birthday wishes- I’m SO overwhelmed with gratitude just even thinking you’d spend even a few seconds of your day on me I am so gracious of. 26, let’s do this. I’m finally equipped and ready! Only took me a quarter century 😅

xx

Kelly