Today...

It has been my privilege and joy to get to know a very special sister in Christ for the past several years. In February of 2006 I was reading a post at the Rebelution, and happened to randomly click on the name of someone who had commented. Her name was Anna Lofgren. When I found we had so many things in common I sent her an email, and before long we were emailing back and forth, and felt like we had known each other for years!

Not only is it amazing that we happened to find each other, but the similarities in our backgrounds and our present struggles and lessons we found to be a blessing as we shared thoughts in emails. Our parents were missionaries before we were born; hers to Africa and mine to Japan. We grew up living on an acreage with our 6 siblings; Anna with her 4 sisters and 2 brothers, and me with my 5 brothers and one sister. At the age of 11 we started taking ballet lessons, and at the age of 16 started teaching. We share almost identical likes and habits in clothing, music, literature, and more.

Anna and I met for the first time in December of 2006, and attended Ballet Magnificat's! Summer Intensive in Summer of 2007; celebrating our 17^th birthdays together (we were born just an hour apart in 1990). We both placed at the same level, and helped keep each other going when the days got long.

Though our dreams for our single years are identical now, a few years ago we had very different expectations for our futures. Anna wanted to stay home and continue furthering her talents to prepare for motherhood; I wanted nothing more than to join a small dance company in Kansas. We were so sure this was what we would do and couldn't imagine anything getting in the way of our dreams.

As of nearly a year ago, however, we both came to realize that God was leading us both in totally different directions than we had planned. Anna's family had a strong desire for her to attend college, and so she has chosen to honor her father's wishes and go. Dance was becoming more difficult for me, and my father disliked the idea of my leaving home, and so I came to the decision that I would not join a company but instead stay home and pursue many different talents and projects.

We graduated from High School in May. Anna celebrated at her home in Alabama, and I had my ceremony in Nebraska. Anna is preparing to leave for college at Belhaven in Mississippi, with a major in theater arts. I will be staying at home with my family campaigning for political candidates, teaching dance, and helping at home. It's been a long road for us as we both worked through struggles; learning to rely on God as He revealed His plan for our single lives. It truly has been a blessing to fellowship together; despite the physical distance we share a special and close tie through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Today we are 18. We really don't feel old enough, and in many ways don't feel ready for the next step we're about to take. But God has been faithful to bring us through the past few years; things we never thought would turn out right came together for good as we shared struggles and learned lessons. And so I know it will be in the next several years of our young adult life, as we lean on Him and grow together.

Happy Birthday, Anna!