Today I turned a quarter of a century old. Finally, I have reached an age which sounds somewhat adult-ish, somewhat credible when you are meeting with professionals in Omaha who have been doing what they’re doing since you were learning to speak.

I had such a fun day with Tyler yesterday, well, this whole weekend. Let me break it down for you what its like to be in the Cooper fam, one of the “Coops.”

Friday - Charlestons (woo!) & 3:10 to Yuma

Saturday - Camille’s, walking around downtown looking at art, sneaking around the DoubleTree Hotel, driving up through the hills near the Lewis & Clark “Council Bluff,” party with the family.

Sunday - picking up African refugees in the morning, helping take care of 10+ kids belonging to various Coram Deo-goers, getting the Refugees & 60 sandwiches and drinks organized at the Zoo and then spending the afternoon walking around looking at the animals (baby tigers), watching a scary movie until I am really creeped out, going to a Theology class/discussion, watching another movie until passing out in bed.

Monday - driving up through cute and also creepy small towns in northern Nebraska and Iowa, eating at a strange cafe with mismatching table cloths and a VHS rental shelf of taped-over movies & family vacations, walking around on reconstructed Lewis & Clark boats out on a lake, walking through a 3 story boat made into a museum in Sioux City, driving up through Yankton and back home through the beautiful hills.

Tuesday - back to work, bagels in the morning, lunch at Zio’s, cake tonight at our Bible study thingamajigger.

Woo! Its been fun. What a great year 24 was, so exciting, so full of change and blessings, a new best friend, a new life with my new best friend, a new job, a new home literally and also in my heart with my community and a growing, fuller one with my family of Collicotts. It was a wonderful year, full of newness and change.

This year should be an adventure. I’m hoping for a year of growth and learning. I hope its full of growth in maturity, growth in wisdom, and learning how to love Jesus and therefore others in a new level of authenticity and trueness. I’m also hoping for fun and excitement, and lots of time with loved ones, most of all my wonderful husband, Tyler, who is the best gift I can imagine (there Jill, that answers one of your bday questions).