Gracie Girl Blog

Today, I’m officially two decades old. Officially not a teenager and officially beat teen pregnancy. This birthday feels different, not just because there is a pandemic but because I have been home for the last week with Covid. It feels like I should be celebrating at school, but it also feels very on-brand for 2020 to be celebrating at home. So, since I’m quarantined in my room on this bday I thought I’d recap the last decade with some pics.

2010

This was my 10th birthday. I was feeling super cool because my tank top and shirt were the peak of fashion at the time. Notice the fish in the back- very characteristic of my animal obsession and role as the Vice President of The Nature Club.

2011

A huge milestone in my 11th year was my first riding lesson ever! It’d take about a year to start weekly lessons but this day was one one the best ever.

This was on my 11th birthday and Caroline and I not only thought these glasses were cool but also we rode to the restaurant in my dad’s mustang convertible- so we were extra cool.

2012

I turned 12 and started 6th grade which to this day was one of the best school years of my life. My class and teachers were amazing, it was truly a blast ruling the school. I was on the jump rope team front and center for performances, I started weekly riding lessons, I helped coach the jump rope club and occasionally worked with the special needs kids during recess. Twelve year old me was living life to the fullest.

2013

Middle school were so rough and awkward years. Something I looked forward to EVERY week was youth group with my small group. We bonded a lot, we supported each other, and I met Leah who was an encouragement to me then and has been ever since.

I looked forward to my weekly riding lesson the most at 13. I cried if I ever couldn’t make it. This is when the barn became a nice get away from anything going on at school. This is me riding Dancer, a super sweet horse I rode most of the year.

2014

The age 14 felt just like 13 and school didn’t change much BUT we went to the ranch in Wyoming for the first time that summer and it changed my life. It became my favorite place ever and emailing Ginny (the wrangler in the pic) throughout the next year reminded my there was a magical place the world out there waiting for me.

2015

The start of high school! I was thrilled to leave middle school behind and have a fresh start.

The best thing I got out of middle school was this group of friends. We got to take on high school together and many of us stuck all the way through.

2016

16 was one of those birthdays when I felt older. I had this high school thing down- I had young life friends. This is a pic I made Anna take of my in my favorite dress at the time, which I still have!

Not to mention my sweet 16 birthday was a BLAST. Grammy graciously offered to have it at her house and we played music, took pics, and ate cowboy cookies. It was a fun way to start off sophomore year.

2017

17 was a tough birthday. It fell on one of my first days at a new school where no one knew me or really knew it was my birthday. However, as soon as we knew about moving 6 months before- Char told me she’d be bringing me cupcakes on my bday. Well, her and Caroline rolled up BEFORE school at 7am to surprise me and I started the day feeling super loved.

We got another morning surprise that week- Kreech also showed up at the crack of dawn to bring Anna and I coffee on our first day. I felt super loved despite starting my junior year knowing no one in my school.

That fall I got to know people and made friends mostly by bonding at football games, the most notable is TRACEY who was such a blessing then and continues to be one of my best friends. This is our first pic together that she sent me today ❤

2018

18 was another in-school bday but this time I had friends and wasn’t stressed about where my classes were. This season of my life was widely consumed with college applications and decisions as you can see reflected in my sweatshirt choice.

2019

I was skeptical about my 19th bday because I was my first away from home only a week into school. However, Ashley got up early to decorate our room, mom sent me a cookie cake I ate with all my friends and we hung out on the drill field and played rink the next night. Overall, it was so fun and I felt so loved.

The friends I’d known for about a week surprised me for breakfast. I was thankful for them then and am even more thankful for them now.

2020

this brings us to the present. Both my roommates are quarantined at home as are many of my college friends. This is the last pic Ashley and I took before we left our house a week ago.

So here’s a selfie from my room today. Mom put balloons in my room and I’ve already received so many texts and phone calls from family and friends making me feel super loved. I’ll be back to Bburg this week to hopefully celebrate with friends- maybe to celebrate surviving corona more than anything. But I’m doing my best to be thankful for today and being able to celebrate with my fam and pets that I’ve spent more of the last 6 months with than I ever expected.

Well, in the last decade there has been so much unexpected, from great to terrible. What’s been true time and time again is that whenever I thought the best was behind me– whenever I thought nothing would ever be as fun as 6th grade or I’d never meet anyone at Westfield or celebrating my birthday at college would be weird — I was wrong. The best was always yet to come.

My prayer this past year so far and for the future is that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13-14). Right now, in our land, that we will see God’s goodness and grace. Thanks for reading friends, and thanks for being a part of my life in this last decade. ❤