Growing up I've always had friends with birthdays on Valentine's Day. My good friend in elementary school, Jill, one of my closest friends since our freshman year in high school, Andrea, and my lifelong friend Ginger. I find it interesting that I have so many friends in my life that not only have the same birthday, but on a holiday! Ginger and Andrea are still very much in my life and I wanted to give them a birthday shout out!

I've known Ginger her entire life. Our families were always super close and we grew up at Van Dyke Church of Christ together. Growing up we did everything together. We had a million sleepovers (where Linda, her mom, always had London's chocolate milk for me), got in trouble together, shopped together, had matching Halloween outfits together (50's poodle skirt), matching jackets together (Old Navy green and blue stripes), and made tapes together (fake radio shows or singing on cassette tapes for us to... play back and listen to?... She will tell you this was all my idea). We even had the chicken pox together, which consisted of us watching The Price is Right over the phone and hanging out and painting paper mache Easter boxes from Michael's. There are also a million 4th-Sunday-of-the-month Chuck-E-Cheese visits that stick out in my mind. We've been through a lot and been in each other's lives forever, and I think we both know, although we live on opposite sides of the country and don't get to see each other every day, that we'll always be there for each other. Love you!!!



Andrea and I became best friends our freshman year of high school. We had a typing class together and she lacked any typing skills what-so-ever, and I was pretty good. How that brought us together, I don't know, but we became inseparable. We sat by each other in every class, made people switch so we had our lockers together and even after spending the entire day together at school we would call each other every single day and talk on the phone. She even went on vacation with our family to Myrtle Beach!!! She's one of those friends where you just look at each other and you know exactly what the other is thinking. The amount of inside jokes we had could fill a book (is that a crescendo you're stepping on?). After high school I went to Abilene, TX for college and Andrea went to Alma College in Michigan. We lost touch for a bit, but reconnected a few years ago. The great thing about our friendship is that, even after years of not talking, when we start up a conversation it's as though we were never apart. Happy Birthday Andrea!!! And a diet coke to my friend soul mate!



And of course, I have to wish a Happy Valentine's Day to Justin! We've been together almost 4 years. I remember I had such a crush on him before we were dating. He was so smart, funny and handsome (and still is) and would drive around in his cool Porsche (which, the first time I got in his car I said "this is so cute, what is it?" and he said "A VW Bug!" and I believed him). He is so sweet to me, treats me like a Princess, and always makes sure I have everything I need. On top of that he looks out for my family as well. Thanks for being such a sweet heart!!!



I hope you all have a great Valentines weekend!!!