Quarter of a Century

Well, it happened... I turned 25 this past Monday (June 11). I have really decided that 25 is going to be an amazing year... why not? People asked me if I felt old, but I think this is the prime time. I am excited about it... ok for like 30 seconds at the restaurant on Monday I freaked out... but that's it.

I feel so blessed. I have the best friends ever! Ten of us went out to Mikuni's Monday night for sushi and Japanese food. We had fun talking and having delicious food and some drinks and then we went to "Someplace Fun." Yes that's the name of it. It's a family entertainment center. It's 40,000 sq feet of fun with DDR, huge blow up slides and obstacle courses and video games and even a carousal. That's right I got to ride on a horse and in a spinning tea cup for my bday!!

Before all of that happened I was in Santa Cruz for the weekend. My dear friends Mindi and Tyler live there at a Lutheran Camp and that's where I had family camp for the church be this year. I had been there since Thursday hanging out with people from the church. I also had Mindi and Tyler's youngest Noah aka Baby McDreamy all weekend as well. We went to the Boardwalk and played games, did the campfire thing, went swimming and all kinds of good stuff. A lady from the church and I even competed in a chicken fight in the pool (you will be happy to know that I won). After everyone from church left, I stayed around. Originally I was going to help with staff training, but that plan changed so I got to have some quality Melissa time all day Sunday. I hope to get a picture of what I did next, but I helped Tyler prepare for guys night at the camp.

The plan was to have a bull riding contest... only they didn't have a bull. So we drilled holes into a Rubbermaid trash can and put old ropes course ropes through it and anchored them to trees by the four corners of the pool. One guy would have to get in the pool to help lower the trash can while the other got on it and held on... then the rest of the guys grabbed on to the four ropes and shook it... some guys were going about 10 feet in the air. I was also thrown in the pool while setting up... but then had to go to girls night.

Joel came down to see Mindi and Tyler and celebrate with us so we talked out on the back porch for a while that night then woke up the next morning to go to birthday breakfast and coffee. I took care of Noah some more that day then headed towards home. On the way I was able to stop in Dublin and go to lunch with Susie. I hadn't seen her in forever! We had a great time and I got back to Lodi just in time to change and head up to Mikuni's in Elk Grove. The rest is kind of history.

This past week I have just been insanely busy getting ready for VBS. Welcome to massive work days. On Friday I took some junior highers to the water park for a fun day and last night my friend Cheri and I went and saw Blades of Glory... oh the fun! It was back to work today and I am still finishing up some vbs... then going to try to get some stuff done at my house because we are throwing a 75th birthday party!!! We are having a party for Grace, Katy and myself and we are all celebrating our 25th! Yeah!!!