Now she's old enough to drive....

Did you know that I am very good friends with THE Jenna Barney??

It's true.

It was her birthday on the 25th of June, exactly six months from Christmas and one day ago, and now that she is 23, she is old enough to drive. My sister Kelly, my very close friend Danae and I went to Redding for Jenna's birthday and the day before and after--to have a little wiggle room for extra celebration--and we had a blast. It was bloomin' hot, but worth the heat stroke very much so. We went to the library and dug through Theology books, found and checked out The Greatest Book Ever Written, complained about the heat, ate Thai food, wrote silly songs, dyed her hair "blonde", watched Bride Wars, complained about the heat, ate at Red Robin with great friends, saw Transformers 2, listened to Jenna play guitar, loved on each other, gave Jenna her birthday gifts, complained about the heat, went to the Stirring office, went through Dutch Bros to see Danae's cute Bethel-Barista-Boyfriend, listened to the "Get Psyched #2 Mix" (which included "Be A Man" from Mulan--epic), took crazy pictures, complained about the heat, and hugged each other 'til we could postpone goodbye no longer.

Jenna Louise Barney is like no other woman I have ever met. Sure, she's beautiful, smart, and funny like many girls claim to be, but even those words don't hold a candle to her. She is much more than that. For starters, I've never seen someone take so much time perfecting an essay, knowing that with a few more tweaks, pushing through a couple more brain aneurysms, and treading through fatigue that it will soon be flawless, or someone who speaks into your life so openly, so compassionately, with words so saturated in God's love for you that it has an echoing effect on your heart and flows into the deep recesses of your soul, or someone who sings and plays guitar with such passion for her Maker, every chord resounding with her heart of service to people and her devotion to God encouraging all who hear her...and so much more.

Jenna is 23 years of age (plus a day) and her life is just beginning. I haven't even known her for a year and already I have seen her grow in many ways she thought were impossible, be filled with courage and EN-courage many dear friends, overcome heart-wrenching situations that have threatened to pull her under, and be strong through the fiercest lowest valleys for loved ones with an incredible faith and determination. Her deep soul and kindred spirit push me to be better and I know that God has great, great plans for her (with Jenna Barney, one "great" in front of plans isn't enough).

I can't thank Jesus enough for putting her in my life in such a way as this.



Happy birthday a day late, my dear one.