Jessica's Happy Birthday

Jessica turned 20 this past Saturday!! Wow! The last of us kids to cross the threshold out of teen-hood!!! ;) I am so thankful for Jessica! She is such a sweet sister and friend! It has been so fun to have her here at Northland the last year and a half! We have had so many good times and it's been so neat to get to know her better! When I left home she was 15, so we get a big kick out of how many little quirky ways we are alike and didn't even realize it since we weren't really around each other much! I love you Jessie, and I'm so glad you were here for your birthday this year!!

To celebrate this monumental event, Jason and Julia drove up from Fairfax, IA, and picked up Julie at Maranatha on their way. Mom was not able to come because she had to work. We all missed her SO MUCH!! We didn't tell Jess that Jason, Julia, and Julie were coming, so it was a fun surprise! They arrived Friday night and we all stayed up till 3am!!! Yikes! Saturday we slept in a little to make up for the late night and then the boys played xbox all day while we girls went to the Grind and the volleyball game. Then we made supper (Tuscan Garlic Chicken...mmmmm!) and had Jess's birthday party! Megan, Laura, and Emily were in on the fun as well. We played games (even the boys played!) and laughed A LOT!!! :) On Sunday we went to church and then to Pizza Hut (because we wouln't want to break the Pizza Hut tradition!) and then to Walmart (more out of necessity than tradition - haha!). ;) Sunday afternoon we watched "Invincible," which I thought was a great movie! Then Sunday evening the guys had a Halo party and we girls chatted and painted our nails and played Scattergories! :D Monday morning we all met at the Grind at 9 for coffee and bagels and then went to chapel together. Later we all went to lunch and after that we had to say goodbye. :( It was SUCH a fun weekend, though!!!! Lots of laughter, lots of pictures! Haha!! I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story!