Late 20's

Hello everyone,

A few days ago, I crossed over to the late part of the 20's...  I have never really had a birthday where I felt significantly different-after all, only one day separates the 'aging' milestone called 'birthday' from the previous year. However, 26 feels very different because now, I am off of my parents' health insurance plan.  I know, very exciting eh?  It's not that I have achieved anything more significant or that I feel emotionally more mature, but it's that I'm getting kicked off of free medical insurance...   But it is a big deal because now, legally, I am no longer dependent on my parents for anything.  And it feels like I am an actual adult.  

How does it feel to be an adult? honestly, for the few days leading up to my birthday, it was not the best feeling  haha.  I think that was mostly because I had to spend a few frustrating days wrestling with getting health insurance for myself and the mountain of paperwork that comes with it.  le sigh... I still have to do more paperwork, but hopefully it will come together?

However, the birthday itself was pretty darn wonderful.  =)

I spent it with my Garth Newel family, just like last year!

The thing about spending your birthday at a music festival is that there is never a shortage of amazing 'Happy Birthday Song'. Forget the out of tune birthday serenades we usually get; at Garth Newel, the song is accompanied by a harmonium, and it's in about 7 part harmony!

My beloved Timbo also baked me a carrot cake, which is a tradition that Abers and Timbo (the Meadowlark Trio) began last year, and he really outdid himself!  =) 

Sorry, I forgot to take a photo before the candle was taken out  haha

Everyone loved it, and it was seriously gone in a minute!

Being the grandma that I am, I would have been just as happy to stay in, play board games, and chill out, but my Garth Newel fam was convinced that we should do something special for my birthday, so we went exploring the beautiful mountains of Virginia!  =)

with all my favs!

We were looking for a waterfall, following directions from Robbie who guided us last year to a different waterfall.  However, we were going downstream on the path, and we figured we should be going upstream for a waterfall...

So we aborted mission and played in the stream instead!

While we were still in the water, we heard thunder, which made us scramble out of the water pretty quickly.

However, once we were out, we couldn't stop thinking about this alleged waterfall that was supposed to be incredibly beautiful.

So we hopped in the car and decided to drive upstream a little more to see if we could find it.  We drove for awhile, but the waters were too calm for any real waterfall to show, so we gave up, and settled on this place instead!

It turned out to be the perfect place actually!  It was beautiful, it had fossils! (Sam's precious..) 

and it also had a Timbo mermaid.  I mean.... the view doesn't get much better, right?  haha

Despite the thunder, the rain held off for awhile, leaving us with ample time to splash around!

My favorite SAM!!

With my Garth Newel Debussy Quartet  =)   

Gotta love our awkward prom pose haha

and some mad bromance

and this cutie pie  =)

It was such a wonderful day, and I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such fun, loving, and awesome people  =)

To top it all off, I received a letter and a package from the best fiance ever!  He completely surprised me out of the blue with a gift that was so unexpected and sweet, and I feel so lucky to have him in my life  =)

Thank you everyone who took time to message me, call me, and text me wishing me a happy birthday-my heart was so full all day with the outpouring of love, and I am so thankful and blessed!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

--Janny