Yup, I’m 23. Weird, right? I always used to think 23 sounded old, but now that I’m here, it seems scarily young. I had a great birthday, though, and it started early.

On Thursday Kami brought balloons, flowers, and coffee cake to me at work. The flowers were gorgeous–they’re still gorgeous almost a week later–and the cake was delicious. I probably ate a little too much of it, but it was for my birthday, so it’s okay! I thought it was really sweet of Kami to do that for me.

Friday was my day off and a few of us went to lunch for Amanda’s birthday. Mmm, Kneader’s. Need I say more? That night Mindy invited some friends over to Jenny’s house and we played games and watched a movie. There were a few of her mission friends, a few of her institute friends, and a few friends from our ward. It was good times.

Saturday morning (happy birthday to me) I got to sleep in. Jenny, Mindy, Stacey, Kami, Mom, and I went to the school and got pedicures (Mom and Kami got manicures). It felt so nice, but poor Mindy didn’t have the best experience.

After the pedicures we went to Red Lobster for lunch. Weird I know, I don’t like seafood and I chose a fish restaurant. But their rolls and pasta are so worth the fishy smell. It was yummy!

After lunch we said good-bye to Stacey and the rest of us went to Jenny’s house. Steve and the kids had made brownies and decorated the house. Abby and Tyler had drawn pictures for me and wrapped them up all pretty. There were 23 candles in the brownies so I needed a little help blowing them out. Thankfully Abby and Tyler were there to help! I don’t think I could have done it on my own.

After we ate the brownies we watched An Ideal Husband (What’s that? No, I’m not looking for a husband! What would make you ask a question like that?).

It was a great birthday, probably the best I’ve had in a long time. Thanks for all the phone calls and love everyone showed me.

When I was in college, I always told myself, that I would have so much free time when I graduated. I thought I would read lots of books and do whatever I wanted. Ha ha. Funny joke.

How does that happen? How is it that there is never enough time? When I was in school, my life was controlled by classes, homework, and work. I always had to read the books I was told to read, and I had to write the papers I was told to write. Then I had to go to bed (kind of) early so that I didn’t fall asleep in class (it’s not so good to fall asleep when there are only 20 people in your class…teachers notice). But what about now? I don’t have anyone telling me what to read or when to go to bed, or anything like that. And yet, it took me six months (gasp) to read a book. Granted, I did read another book and listen to seven books during that time, but that is the longest it has ever taken me to read a book before.

But I’ve just decided that life is busy no matter how old you are. There’s no way around it. Right now, work takes up most of my time, and my calling steals me away from pleasure reading. Someday it will be my kids that take up my time. I figure we all just have to do the best we can with what we have.

Maybe my point is that you can’t get mad at me when I don’t write. I have family telling me to post on my blog even though I have nothing interesting to tell. I have friends at work telling me to work on my story so that we can share our work. I have a mile-long list of books I want to read, and I made a goal to read the Ensign every month this year. Life is busy and I have a lot of things I want. Don’t get angry. If you want to hear about my life between my posts, talk to me (and ask specific questions, right Mindy?).