288 months OLD and 23 trips around the sun!

Surfing in Australia

Cape Town, South Africa

Semi-Finals of the World Cup. Netherlands vs. Uruguay

African Safari.

Quarter Finals Argentina vs. Germany....Vamos Argentina!

South African Safari!

Magazine Photoshoot! We're FAMOUS!

Sydney Tower, We were in the Sydney Newspaper here!

Sydney, Australia

Skydiving!

Ice Climbing in New Zealand

Bungy Swing, New Zealand

Skiing in the Swiss Alps!

24 years old today!  I remember when I was 18 thinking…man, 24 year olds are so old, and yet here I am reaching old age and loving every minute of it!  I have decided I really like birthdays, because it means I went through one more year of learning from my stupidity and realizing more and more that I really don't know much.  At 18, I thought I knew alot and had life figured out....so now, I can look back respond back to my 18 year old self..."oh yeah, well I think 18 year olds are stupid because you already know everything!" I just pray that each birthday I can look back at the last year and see growth in wisdom and humility!  So conclusion, Birthdays are great! My life completely changed last year, so I'm challenging 24 to try and beat 23! 

I pulled a few photos from my life this last year to remember the crazy adventures of 23! I can’t believe I was able to surf in Australia, go on an African Safari, attend a few world cup games, skydive, bungy and ice climb in New Zealand, and ski in the Swiss Alps!  I look at the places I have been and it really feels like I completed a life time bucket list in one year!  I have learned so much from these adventures like Learning more of what it means to be in awe of the Creator. Watching the violent waves crash against the shores of Australia and Africa and sitting in wonder of the power and majesty just in His pinky.  Or noticing how the mountains of Switzerland and the Sunsets of New Zealand seem to be God’s way of exclaiming “This is mine, this belongs to me!” that Creation is pointing to a creator and then in turn having a desire to not be out done by a rock.  Learning what worshiping as a lifestyle looks like and learning about fear of the Lord.  While on the African Safari, the Lion demanded my attention.  I couldn’t keep my eyes off of them, there was a fear of them but not in a oh crap that animal could destroy me sort of way, but a fear as in an awe inspiring, powerful sort of way.  The term “Lion of Judah” was brought to life!

Yes, I have seen a lot of cool things this year and I feel extremely blessed, but all of those things fail in comparison when placed against the fact that I was able to know God and make Him known among the nations!  The other things were almost worthless in comparison!  The adrenaline rush fades, the soccer team I love so much will lose, the snow will melt, but the word of the Lord is eternal.  The things I was able to see God move and restore and renew was so much greater than I could ever describe on paper!  The friendships I have made this year and the people I have grown to love is what I will look back at in 50 years and remember how life changing 23 was!  I pray that next year, I will look back at this point and get to pray “wow, God, I thought I knew you then.”  That God would continue to reveal himself and overwelm me with his love that I can’t help but share it with others!  Here’s to the 24^th time around the sun! OLE!