25 and thankful.

Today I turn 25. 

I've been thinking a lot about what to write for my birthday blog post.

What I could possibly share with all of you that would be a good story, or interesting, or funny, or tug at your heartstrings? Something that would be from my heart to yours on my 25th birthday?

Different ideas have come and gone. Paragraphs have been typed out and then deleted. But what it really comes down to as I reflect on today and the past 25 years is how thankful and grateful I am for this life. So much so, that when I really start to think about it, tears fill my eyes, all sorts of emotions rise to the surface and my heart feels so overwhelmingly full it's as if it could burst.

So here it is. My way of saying what I really want to say on my birthday:

Thank you, 

It's not in any particular order, just my thoughts flowing freely. But there's a good chance that if you've already been reading this far, you're somewhere in the list of thank-yous, so please keep on reading! :)

1. Thank you to my amazing parents that welcomed me into the world 25 years ago today. They have been my biggest fans, my constant support, the calm voice on the other end of the phone that I need to hear and the love that I can feel across the Pacific ocean plus a few thousands miles. 

2. Thank you to my siblings, you guys are just the greatest. I love how close we've all become now that we're older and yet can still have so much fun when we're together acting like we're kids again. You guys bring out the best (and weirdest) side of me.

3. Thank you to my incredible husband, Ramsey. Thank you for asking me to marry you, it was the best YES I've ever said. Thank you for your constant encouragement, for being the iron to sharpen me, for being patient with me and for being willing to be open and vulnerable with me.

4. Thank you to my family, both near and far away. Uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents ...thank you for your constant love, support and prayers.

5. Thank you to my huge Hawai'i family too! For all the uncles, aunties, cousins, grandparents, and siblings that I've gained through being married to Ramsey. Thank you for welcoming me into your lives with open arms and so much aloha.

6. Thank you to my in-laws for opening up your home and letting us live with you guys while we pay off our student loans. It's been an amazing year and a few months, you have helped us out with so much. 
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7. Thank you to my church, New Hope Town for growing me into the woman I am to day, Thank you for challenging me, inspiring me and teaching me.

8. Thank you to all my friends from church who have become more like family. Thank you for walking alongside me through the thick and thin of life.

9. Thank you to all of my pastors who have poured into me and invested in me.

10. Thank you to so many people who have mentored me in one season or another. Thank you for your wisdom, advice, prayers and friendship.

11. Thank you to all of my friends who have been part of my life here in Hawai'i before moving on to your next chapter. There are too many of you to name, but you know who you are. Thank you for the friendship that knows no distance and that we can pick up right where we left off as if you never moved away.

12. Thank you to all the incredible people I've worked with over the years. From lifeguarding, working on boats, WOC days, coffee shop, restaurant, body shop etc etc.. Thank you all for being part of my life, for the wonderful friendships that still stand, for all the memories, laughs and even the crazy times. 

13. Thank you to my friends back in Montana, those of you I grew up with, went to school with, played sports with or whatever it may be. It's always so special to reconnect with you when I'm home and to see what awesome things God is doing in your life even if we're miles apart.

14. Thank you to the awesome friends I get to coach with at Kamehameha, Thanks for all the hard work and hard laughs. So much fun with you ladies! 

15. Thank you to everyone at Four Seasons who've been part of the process of bringing me on board. I still can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that I get to teach painting classes for a living, but thanks for creating this opportunity for me as an artist.

16. Thank you also to all the fellow artists I've met, connected with, collaborated with, created with, and supported each others dreams with. From photo shoots, to flower crowns, calligraphy to cameras.  It's such an honor to work alongside such talented individuals, to encourage, inspire and root each other on as we pursue our big ideas, wild dreams and creative passions.

17. Thank you to my surf Wednesday's Kewalos crew!! Love you all so much and miss being on the water with you guys. Thank you for all the great memories, great waves, great laughs and being such great friends. 

18. Thank you to my Imua paddling o'hana! It's been so fun starting to paddle this year, to make new friends and reconnect with dear friends. Thank you to all the awesome coaches and strong women I have the privilege of being on a crew with. Moloka'i here we COME! 

19. I'm so thankful for having a healthy body to do things like paddling, surfing, swimming, and so much more! Thank you Jesus for good health!

20. I'm so thankful to have the ocean and the mountains as a playground, a place to enjoy and experience God. We live in a beautiful world!

21. I'm so thankful to have the ability to travel, a safe car to drive, for airplanes to take me home and for my own two feet that get me from A to B.

22. I'm thankful for all the blessings of this life, for air in my lungs, for clothes in my closet, for food in the fridge, for a roof over my head, for running water and so much more. Things not taken for granted.

23. I'm thankful for what the next 25 years and beyond will hold. The unknown, the excitement, the challenges, the struggles to overcome, the dreams and the adventures.

24. I'm thankful for all of you who've read this far, thanks for committing! Haha! I'm always so encouraged by all the comments, text messages, or encouraging words from my readers. So thank you for reading! 

​25. And above all, I'm thankful for the One who created all these people and privileges, these opportunities and outlooks. I'm thankful to God for all the blessings, for all the trials, for all the growth, for all the struggles. For the beauty I see and experience in every one and every thing around me. I'm thankful that God put me on this earth 25 years ago today to live this adventure. 

"For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13-16)
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Thank you God for this life. Yes, thank you.