Tomorrow is my birthday. I’m turning 26. It is the first time that I have not been able to spend my birthday with my family, and while I am excited for the day that my friends have planned for me tomorrow, I am a little sad that I won’t be with Kelly. I have decided that I would like my last post of my 25th year to be a look at some of my favorite moments of the year.

 

My birth year started with a cake that looked like me. How many people can say that? It was delicious.

 

I got accepted into the University of Edinburgh and decided to move to Scotland and have an adventure. This was one of the easiest and hardest decisions that I have ever made. It also happens to be one of the best I made in my 25th year.

 

These girls. They took me out for my 25th birthday, filled me with beer and pizza and did not complain when I beat them at bowling. We had many amazing adventures, and many good conversations

 

This guy. Definitely one of my favorite parts of being 25. This is a picture taken on the night he told me he loved me for the first time. We’d had dinner with his family, and as I was leaving his house that night and he went off to study for the bar, he kissed me and told me he loved me before sending me on my way.

Going to Ireland. It was not only a place that I really wanted to visit, but it was a fun 10 days with my family. Plus, it produced this picture:

 

Getting to be a part of a wedding in a major way. Being the one to sign the marriage licence was so much fun and I can’t wait to see what their future brings them.

 

Meeting this guy:

 

Moving to Scotland and meeting these girls

and these ones….

and who could forget the boys?

I’ve learned a lot from the people here. I enjoy my classes because of them, I enjoy the dorm some days because of them, and I enjoy my time out and about in the city because of them. I know that I will be friends with them long after I return to California to settle down.

Being able to still feel connected to the bestie of 11 years. She is busy and has her own life to sort out, but she sent me a care package, she answers all my texts, and she came to greet me at Christmas when I came home.

 

This guy and his stories. He is one of my best friends and he lets me complain, bitch and moan about people, and lets me tell him how to live his life. He keeps me laughing and reminds me that there is nothing in life a few drugs can’t cure.

 

I got to live in the snow. While this is not something I really want to do again, I had fun for the few days I was here in it.

 

and of course, the best way to end 25…..knowing that no matter what, I have these people to go home to. They keep me laughing, understand my weirdness and do not hesitate to tell me to cut it out when I go bat shit crazy. For that, I know that I am the luckiest girl ever and that despite some of the hiccups lately, 25 was a good year, and 26 will be even better.

 

There are so many other things that I could mention, so many other good days and fun adventure, but these are the ones that I have been thinking about the most as I get ready to  end the day.