For our birthdays this year, AJ and I decided to head down to St. George where my brother, his wife, and their cute little girl live.

We left Friday evening and flew a 172 Skyhawk Cessna the 300+ miles down there. We spent two days swimming and cliff jumping in Sand Hollow and really soaked in that 107 degree heat (I know!). We went to dinner at a bomb mexican restaurant called Peppers Cantina and the girls did some shopping while the guys bonded.  It was literally so. much. fun!

We were set to leave Monday night but as it turned out the winds were really kicked up so we luckily had to extend our stay until Tuesday morning. It was so hard to come home though and I wish we could have stayed for another week. It was the perfect birthday weekend and I am so glad that we were able to go.

Thanks again to Kent and Emma for letting us crash with them! We love you guys!
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On getting older

I often hear a lot of people saying they don’t want to celebrate their birthdays or let other people know when it is because they don’t want to get older. I’ve always found this quite interesting because I actually do want to get older.

I started telling people my new age a week before it was even my birthday. I’m not sure what it is but I was just so excited for it. I think growing up I’ve always been a little too mature for my age. I often related more to my friend’s parents than my friends themselves and acted like the parent when my younger siblings needed help. Now with each passing year it’s as though I’m finally growing into my own skin. I am who I’ve always been but now the outside matches what’s inside.

I mean sure it’s great to be young and I don’t want to look 60 or 70 years old yet but getting older means so many great things.

When I look in the mirror I don’t see a girl anymore, I see me. A maturing and hopefully wiser woman. I want to get older because I want to learn and grow. I want to experience things I haven’t yet. I want to gain wisdom and knowledge and fill my mind with the wonders of the world.

I want to get older because I want the world to know I have lived a life, my life.