Happy Birthday

My dearest Courtney,

Happy 22nd birthday. This blog is my gift to you. Nine years is a long time. There's a lot to remember in nine years but also a lot that can easily be forgotten. That's why I've compiled all our traditional photos together with a few sentences on what we did that year in hopes that we'll never forget some of our most precious memories together. You are so dear to me and I'm blessed beyond words that I get to have you as one of my best friends.

Much love now and forever,

Lydia

2002

October 2002

middle-school

Our very first traditional photo together :) This was definitely our sporty stage. 2002 was full of Pony Tail Express and middle-school basketball. I remember writing all my papers the night before our Friday classes and you being so organized and impressive and so the opposite of me. Basketball was when we really became friends. We feared Mr. Snyder together and worked every ounce of our fat off. I love those years because they were the years I made my two best friends, you and Kristen. <3

2003

October 2003

ninth grade

Ooh, hello gorgeousness. Wow. This must have been the year we experimented with odd styles the most?? Because I think it's the farther from who we are now. Haha. This was the year I blind folded all of you and went to that abandoned house and took awesome photos. 2003 was also our last year of middle-school/first year of high school. I'll never forget that championship game of middle-school basketball. It was awful losing to them but I think what made you and Kristen become such a great team in high school! I loved watching you guys play. :) Oh, and lets not forget that The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King premiered December 2003. "Hand over heart" foreverrr.

2004

October 2004
tenth grade

I think this was the year we finally learned how to straighten our hair. Haha, I don't actually remember a thing about this party but I'm sure it was great fun. 2004 was the year I joined you and Kristen on the soccer team! It was also the year we took Mr. Ellis and Mr. Kummer classes (not together).

2005

October 2005

eleventh grade

Bazoooooooka! Hey, Court, why don't you wear that shirt anymore?? Haha. I look like a 37 year old man. What the heck. This was the year it rained and we went out to play in the puddles and took photos under a giant umbrella. Then we went inside and made funny and bizarre collages. 2005 was the year we scored 21-0 against Montrose in soccer. So cruel! It was also the year you, Emily, Kristen, and I went to Juarez, Mexico for the Mission's Trip. We were on the bathroom crew together. :) As Juniors in high school we also we went to Philadelphia, PA together for Mr. Bronson's American History class. And don't forget those early morning Systematic Theology class devotionals we had to lead! Haha. I loved this year.

2006

October 2006

twelfth grade

I think this was one of my happiest birthday parties. This was the year we went to ride on a trolly and I got my "first kiss" by the conductor. We also took a tour of the trolly museum, ate food and cake outside, and came back to my house to play fruits. I'm wearing Natalie Poelma's sweatshirt in this photo and you have a cute Minard-esque brown blazer. I think 2006 was one of the happiest years for both of us as we transitioned from Mr. Bronson loving juniors in the Spring to seniors in high school in the Fall. May 2006 was the first year we took photos at Kelley Park and the Summer that I worked at Quizno's. I think some of my favorite parts of this school year were when we would walk out to our cars together and talk for an hour with Kristen, Sam Bran, and Taylor. How simple life was back then.

2007

January 2007

freshman year

This was the year you and Kristen threw me my first (and only!) surprise party in the Mayses backyard. :) We all had a picnic and took photos with each other. We forgot to take our traditional photo of the two of us that day so I this was taken a few months later. You must have come straight from work at your Olney PT office and I think my nails were done for our first Admin banquet in January. 2007 was the wonderful year we graduated high school! I had my performances of Godspell in April and in May we had our last class with Mr. Sasser and we were done! Whoohoo! This year was also our first semester of college at MC! What a year.

2008

October 2008

sophomore year

Ooooh my goshhhh. So much I could say about his photo. This was the day we went to Noodles & Co. in The Kentlands and took that cute group shot outside between the two handicapped parking signs. But hoooolymooooly do we look odd in this photo. You definitely aren't fat but man you are a lot skinnier now. And I don't even want to start with me...I have a turnip growing on my forehead, a watermelon in my belly, and my jeans make me look like a beached whale. Sheesh, happy birthday to me.

2009

October 2009
junior year

I love this one :) We both look so happy and partied out and it's the only photo of the series not taken in my bedroom. 2009 may have been the year of breakups and sadness but this was such a fun day. It was my 21st birthday party at Rachel Robb's house and we got all decked out for a carnival/fair theme. We ate good food and played hilarious games like pin the tail on the donkey and Who's Line is It Anyway charades. I'm so glad I got to share it with you. PS: You look adorb.

2010

October 2010

senior year(ish)

And this takes us to modern day us. :) This was the day you all came over to my house for my joint birthday party with Kristen. We ate yummy Moby and played engagement party games. Unfortunately, I think this might be the ugliest photo of them all. Hahaha. At least we have the excuse that it was taken at 2am?? 2010 was the year of our first boyfriends and last year of college for you. Regardless of our tired faces I like how grown up we look in this photo. Fancy chandelier, our own styles developing, etc. We've come a long way from LOTR posters in the background!

2011

October 2011

Haha. Well we tried, right? I think I'd give us points for wearing cute clothes this year. And for returning to our curls. 2011 was the year of your first car, my first (and hopefully last) heartbreak, and definitely a year realizing how not ideal life can be. Here's to a happier 2012?

2012

October 2012

(10 YEARS!)

This was a very grown up year for us! And, praise God, happier as well. You realized what you're doing is your dream job and moved to Baltimore to be closer to it. And what a little city girl you are now! You've made new friends, visited new churches, attended new Bible studies and even made meal plans!! I came kicking and screaming into the new year only to meet my future boyfriend 20 days later. I moved on from my past and moved forward into an incredible year of traveling the world, making some great new friends, and getting to know sweet Stefan Green. Another great year of friendship, Courtney girl. I'm so grateful for you.

2013

October 2013

(Taken at Zaytinya in DC)

Maybe I'll look back and laugh at this, but I feel like we're starting to look like grown-ups now! This year you traveled to Europe (alone!), became an aunt two times over, had your first serious relationship, got accepted to Towson, and officially started attending church in Baltimore. I bought my first brand new car, became an aunt, hit the one-year mark with Stefan, 'met the parents', and saw freaking Beyonce in concert! There's still so much that's unknown about our futures but I feel like we have a good head on our shoulders now. And, no matter what, we'll always have each other. :)

2014

October 2014

It's that time again! Man, 2014 was quite the year. I wish I could say it was all happy things like you moving in with Chinwe and Jess or me finally closing the long distance chapter in my life. But 2014 also brought some of the biggest heartaches. Mama Bear left us for her heavenly home in January. Bobby and Ryan joined her shortly after. Teressa and Nate died in car accidents and more friends (and friends of friends) suffered sickness and loss. We learned this year that no one is immune to hurt and every moment with our loved ones is precious. This realization brought about big changes for us. I moved 1,000 miles away from all of my family and friends so that I could take the next important step in my relationship with Stefan. You dove headlong into new relationships in Baltimore, a beautiful new home, classes at Towson, a new boyfriend, and even braved a trip to South Africa alone to reconnect with our friend Sylvie. We've signed leases, filed taxes, changed flat tires, and cried tears of frustration and hurt. But I think we value the good things more than ever now. I'm so grateful to be home for Christmas, to share another traditional birthday photo with you, and to remember that no matter what next year brings, we serve the same loving and faithful God. 

I love you!

2015

October 2015
(Taken while wedding dress shopping in MD)

2015 was a truly incredible year. It began with a trip to Oklahoma to visit Kristen where we stayed up late one night texting a boy named Joey. I guess you could say it was the beginning of the rest of your life, Court. ;) In 2015, you lived on Cloud 9 dating Joey while I embraced my first full year living in Minnesota. In the Fall, Hurricane Joaquin arrived and with it the most whirlwind moment of my life: Stefan's surprise proposal at Brighton Dam! Shortly after, in December, Joey lead you into Mobtown Ballroom and asked you to dance with him and to be his wife. Who would've thought we would both be engaged within two months!! I can't imagine a more magical year. I loved sharing it with you.

2016

October 2016

Well, if there were ever a year to rival 2015 it would be 2016! This year we both got married, moved into new apartments, and began new lives as wives. Wedding planning is no joke but we pulled it off without wedding planners or any visits to the hospital. And our reward was France and Italy! Stefan and I honeymooned in Paris and you and Joey in Cinque Terre, Rome, and beyond. Travel seemed to be a common theme in 2015 with seemingly endless weddings for you and Joey to attend as well as the start of Joey's new job at Hope International in Lancaster. I had weddings of my own to photograph in Colorado, Maine, and New York to name a few. While life looks a little different than before, we still manage to find time to reunite and spend time together face to face. I'll always cherish those times, as short lived as they may be. I love you!

2017

October 2017

2018

October 2018