twenty seven.

A birthday letter to you on the day that officially honors all things worth celebrating: ice cream, cookies, honesty, and you. I can't think of a better combination.

BF,

I'm not sure I even know where to begin.

You've been such a steady, constant, pillar of strength and understanding in my life - even, and maybe especially, when you don't feel that you are.

You encourage me, inspire me, and dare me to be better with your own passionate commitment to doing life well.

You, my (older and wiser) friend, teach me, challenge me, strengthen, support, and pray for me.

Without fail, you've always been there for me when I needed you. Regardless of the number of times we've missed phone calls and failed to return voicemails, the times that it has really mattered you've been the one that was there.

You, in your love for your friends, have illustrated well a grace-filled, Christ-like love and steadfastness that I count myself blessed daily to be on the receiving end of.

You are humble and loving, courageous, adventurous, and independent.

And the way that you live with a zeal for life is contagious. You see beauty in people, places, and things. Through your patient listening ear and artistic eye behind a camera, or in your unswerving determination and desire to live and love well, you are able to draw out the best in what you see. Maybe this is what I love most about you.

We've come a long way from sneaking out of Double X , prancing around in our Fembot capes, and living the carefree and amazing life of teenagers at Phantom Ranch. We followed one another to school(s), and have walked through heartaches, celebrations, daily details of life, and developmental issues together with stronger shoulders than either one of us thought we posessed on our own. I think it's because, as they say, "two heads are better than one."

You have a way of grounding me and reminding me of the best version of who I am, a gift that I can't express my gratitude for. I'm so unbelievably proud of the woman that you are, and humbled by the gift that you are from God as a partner on my journey through life.

You, just as you are, are going to continue to do amazing things, and I can't wait to stand next to you and support you as you do them.

Happy Birthday, Emily.