For Kimi-

You're 20. You're 20.... Wow, that is so weird to think, let alone type.

Today marks the day in which you have officially reached what I have always known was going to happen, the day in which the inevitable becomes reality- you're a real woman now. We always talked about what we'd be doing at  20 when we were growing up... Thinking we'd be living in New York as magazine editors (we watched The Devil Wears Prada far too much....) or remember when we we set on being  bartenders like the ones in Coyote Ugly? (We both knew we would never make it due to the fact that neither of us drink/can't dance to save our lives...) Man.... Those were the days. 20 seemed so far away back then, but it's here now and I couldn't be more elated for you. Instead of being a magazine editor or a bartender (thankfully) you're an artsy, independent, wise, beautiful English major at Boise State who is going to do great things. I am so proud of the woman that you have grown into.

I am still stuck in our lovely past- growing up on grandpa's ranch, walking around Ojai, pretending we were Elizabeth Swan after watching Pirates of the Caribbean.  Life has brought us down separate paths, but we have never let go of one another's hands. We don't talk as often as we should, but there is something about being connected to someone- the type of connected in which you know that you were best friends long before this earth began- that makes the distance more bearable.

I'm always going to remember you as the 14 year old girl who sat by my side on the edge of the highway the summer before we began high school. We talked about how scared we were to go to high school. How scared we were to grow up and how scared we were to see what parts of the real world were all about. But in that moment, when we were tossing the oranges from Grandpa's ranch across the highway, with the backdrop of the sweet glow of the warm California sun fade into the Ventura skyline, we both knew that despite the challenges that growing up with bring upon us, we'd always have each other.

We're always going to have each other.

In the words of our hero Chris Martin, "you don't know how lovely you are." And it's true. You're never going to fully comprehend how much of a goddess you are. You're never going to wrap your head around the fact that the strength you hold is so powerful. You're never going to know how much I love you and am so thankful for the fact that you are my cousin/twin soul/confidant.

Happy birthday, Kimi. I love you to the moon and back.

ditto. 

Happy Christian Kyle Sagers Day!

Today is the birthday of one of my greatest friends, Christian! How awesome is it that he turns 20 on 12-12-12?! I really shouldn't be surprised though, because he is quite possibly one of the most amazing men I've ever encountered, so OF COURSE his birthday marking one score of his life accomplished would fall on the last repetitive day we'll ever see in our lifetime!

In honor of dearest Christian, here are twenty reasons why he is one of the greatest fellas around:

1. He is the most humble person I know.
2. He understands my humor and actually finds it entertaining (who would have thought....)
3. He is my dancing twin. No one else flails along with me until he came around.
4. His love for music that touches your soul is intriguing.
5. He has this superhuman capacity to love and accept everyone he encounters.
6. His laugh is one of my favorite sounds on this earth.
7. He plays Spanish cassette tapes in his car... 'nough said.
8. He is a living testament that chivalry is not dead (his momma raised him right ;))
9. By the way, his mom is one of my favorite ladies and by association that counts for him as well. You're great, Miss Deon :)
10. He is an amazing listener and even better at giving advice.
11. Ladies, he's a looker. Well-dressed and always presentable. I always loved walking on campus with him because girls shot me the "evil eye" ;)
12. He's always up for a good time. (Need a reminder? Remember this? And this?)
13. He knows how to cook and has a great appreciation for good food.
14. He is quite the ice-skating instructor and an even better catcher of human-bodies when one almost hits the ice. Believe me.... I'd know.
15. He is so consistent. I know that despite the fact he is in Sweden serving his LDS mission and we are continents apart he will always be there if I need his wise words. He is so constant and so strong.
16. Until him, I didn't know anyone else enjoyed silence as much as I did. It is such a gift to share comfortable silence with someone.
17. He is the reason why I made a blog and he is it's biggest fan! Let's hope he still enjoys it when he gets home....
18. His ability to transcend his spoken voice into his letters is such a miraculous, admirable gift.
19. He is so empathetic and mindful of the others. It truly stupefies me to see how intuitive he is.
20. He is a man of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He walks by faith and is always aware of the mantle that has been placed upon him. He is such an inspiration to me and I am so thankful for his meek, humble, powerful and loving presence in my life.

See you soon,  Äldste Sagers!