Happy Birthday, Issa!

Issa is officially an adult:

She had a great birthday yesterday! Several of her friends made her cards, and her roommate made signs and gave her the sweetest little gift that is so Issa: a jade sea turtle with hearts on it. One of her classes sang to her, and she said she was surprised how many people left her notes on her door.

We took her new favorite pizza to campus for dinner, and she wanted to show us and eat in her favorite place on campus: the gazebo by the pond. It was dark by the time we finished, but a buck and several turtles joined us over the course of the evening, and we got to listen to the barred owl call as we were leaving. It was so fun to see her in her element, and I can see why this is her favorite place.

It was hard not having her home so I could wake her up by singing, but it did this mama's heart good to see her so well-loved by her friends and so happy in this next chapter.