30

My dearest friends,

As my 30th birthday is approaching I am sending out a thought and love filled request.

Over ten years ago when I was in college I heard of this organization, Charity: Water. It was a cool new nonprofit that used positive marketing and a joy through giving strategy to bring awareness to a serious global issue. Instead of shaming people into giving they brought joy and energy to the fact that anyone, us, could be a part of the solution. I get chills knowing that my money will directly impact the lives of people around the world who I will never meet. My goal of raising $1500.000 will give clean water to 33 people. That’s real. Charity: Water follows the 100% model which means 100% of the funds donated go directly to the water projects. They provide a GPS address and email updates so you are able to follow the progress of the project. I am not a skeptical person, but if I were I would be really impressed by this. I also learned through recently reading the book Thirst, written by the founder that tells the story of Charity: Water, that they employ local workers to complete labor of water wells and installments, giving credit to those in the community and building the local economy. There are a million stories of goodness to share. If interested, you could purchase the book Thirst by Scott Harrison, or listen to him speak. He has recently made appearances in a couple of my favorite podcasts including The Armchair Expert, the Robcast, For the Love with Jen Hatmaker, and the Rich Roll Podcast. Soak it in.

Charity: Water came up with an idea to “give your birthday” as a donation. We have enough stuff, don’t we? So, I jumped on board, as I usually do when something hits my heart, and I donated my 24th and 25th birthday to this cause. I set the bar high for my 30th birthday with a goal of raising $1,500.00. In an honest moment I will share I had the thought of being embarrassed if I don’t reach my goal. Then I thought that is silly and selfish. If I have learned anything over the past thirty years it has been how to be comfortable in my own skin and in my own head so I am going for it!

Looking back it makes me laugh how much I have changed since the first donation project when I was 21 to 24 to 25 and now 30.

What sticks out most are the people who have come in and out of my life, shaping the woman I have become.

My Family. My Dad, on the tennis court with me since I was four years old. Always teaching me how to play with integrity, run for every single ball, and love and cherish my time on the tennis court. With all my confidence I can say he is the best person I know. My Mom, who is the very definition of “sweet” and who has passed on almost all of her attributes to me including a deep love for thrift stores, dry pastries, hot coffee, and taking walks. Em, who is my person and my true other half. She makes anything fun and loves me despite knowing my quirks better than anyone. Marg, who can make my cry laughing in .2 seconds, whose heart is bigger than Everest. Her honest pursuit of God has been an example to her older sister. Aunty Angela, I mean, I don’t even have words. The woman has it all. She is hysterical, giving giving giving, loves people so well, has wisdom. She attracts people to her. If I have a SLIVER of my Aunt Angela in me I am doing okay. Aunty Linda, she has shown her nieces a beautiful example of a lifetime of movement and finding joy in all things. She has gifted me more than she will ever know by her contagious love of life.

My Friends. Suzie, been a sister since fifth grade. She is an actual sister, the person I can call crying (rationally or irrationally crying), the person I look to for advice, the person who paves the way. I admire her on so many levels, as a woman, mother, wife, artist, teacher and friend. Rebekah, the love of my life who I will spend all my days with if I never get married. She is passionate and all love. She is comfort. She is a sister who has a peace and acceptance that teaches me. She is the kind of person that by just knowing her makes me better. Karen. A middle school small group leader turned best friend. This woman creates a space for me to say all things in my head out loud. How my life would be without that I do not know. She is so stinking smart, dorky, and has a beautiful confidence. Book Club. They took me in as a newcomer and I can’t be more thankful to share Thursday nights with these four women- Leah, Suzie, Em and Heather. Guys, we go deep, we talk about the good stuff. I am tempted to insert so many jokes but I will refrain. But Heather is the best cook.

My Coworkers. Carolyn, Shannon, Mary Beth, Nicole, Nancy, Chris. You all make my 9-5 a place of laughter, tears, growth, comfort. Carolyn and Shannon I miss you but you have made a lasting impact on me and need to be mentioned! You all make me better, put up with me, and work is 1,000 times better because of YOU!

My Guys. Taylor, Stephen, Dan. I just LOVE you want to send you all the encouragement to build you up and see you share your gifts with the world! You are men of faith. Thank you for being gentle with me, for challenging me in thought, and for always being up for dinner and/or a movie, or just dinner. And for making me laugh.

My Tennis Community. Kim & Algonquin, Steph. Kim, you know how special you are, but truly you have given me confidence so many times when I had none, and so much laughter all the time, I admire you. Steph, sharing a court with you is my FAVORITE, but our chats on the sidelines are just as life-giving. Most importantly, you both have made tennis fun for me over the years and have set a worthy example of healthy competition. So much love!

My Faith Leaders. Anne Lamotte, Jenn Hatmaker, Rob Bell, Shane Claiborne, Donald Miller, Barbara Brown Taylor, Glennon Doyle, Tim Keller. Shaping my heart and mind.

To Everyone, Thank you for seeing me, making me laugh, making me think, teaching me patience, teaching me gratitude, or just being with me. You are made in God’s image and I value the time you have been a Guest in my House.

Sending love to everyone. If you made it to the end it’s a true accomplishment.