Birthdays are FUN

Welcome illustrious and loyal readers! Yes, it's true: I'm writing a REAL update.

Today is my birthday. I am now 21 and may legally do many things that I still won't even think about until I've graduated. Ms. Grady blindfolded me so I wouldn't see where we were going and drove me to Carrabba's. Much to her dismay and my personal glee, however, my keen sense of direction instructed me and before she parked I said, "Yay! We're going to Carrabba's!" Isn't it great to be male? Anyhow, I had a delicious Pasta Weesie and lots of that bread dipped in olive oil with spices. Then we went back to campus and she unveiled the crowning glory: The SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS: SPECIAL EDITION DVD. We watched it in the downstairs lobby of McFarland, where we were generally free from the noisiness of the Super Bowl. (Why did my B-Day have to fall on Super Bowl Sunday?) So anyways, Mom and Dad called this morning and I answered the phone thinking, "What's this all about?" It wasn't until they said, "Happy Birthday!" that I realized what today was. I've been seriously bogged down with homework for the last several days, so until tonight I've been pretty disconnected from this whole business. But anyways, it was a great birthday, and I just want to say thanks to all you guys for making it so special. N got me binocs, the other JG got me a cactus and a candle, Plackebo got me some candy (Nerds, appropriately), Mom and Dad are sending me a new hiking sleeping bag, and Mr. D's gift is as of yet undisclosed. But earthly possessions aside, from all of you, gifts or no, there was much love, and for this I am the most grateful.

So on to other matters that actually matter... Last night Ms. Grady had a pretty serious asthma attack, and honestly, it scared the jeebies out of me. There were a few instances where she simply could not breathe at all, and I mean literally zero air flow into her lungs for 10-15 second intervals. It's at a time like that where you suddenly remember how much you need God, and though I hate that it took something so terrible, I'm finding that I have an easier time talking to Him again. Sometimes we just have to be shaken up a little bit.

Father, thank you for waking up my awareness of you. Thank you for protecting Stella last night. She means so much to me. Please let me never take for granted the simple things like air which are so important for existence. Please let me never take You for granted, either. Help me to rely on you in times when it's not obvious that I need to, because in truth, I always need to. In Jesus' name.