I feel like I'm mocking my girlfriend by saying this, but life at twenty-nine is not at all what I expected it to be. That, however, isn't always a bad thing. To be honest with myself and everyone else, I couldn't have expected my life to be better than it is right now. In the twenty-nine years that I've been on this planet, I have managed to find a home, find love, build a family, and follow my dreams. I am doing what I've wanted to do my entire life. I'm working for an architectural firm that is working towards building a brighter future, metaphorically and literally. I'm helping build houses for low income families, we do charity work for disaster relief by designing stable homes and providing the materials and contractors to carry out the building process. While we haven't found a home of our own yet, I am living with two of the most important women in my life and we are comfortable and happy. I have a gorgeous little girl who already has me wrapped around her little finger. I am hoping that, in time, I will be able to con her mother into becoming a Royce because that, alone, is the only other thing I could possibly want. I have my friends and my family, the health and happiness of all of them. Honestly? I think that's a pretty good place to be at twenty-nine.

The short of it? Today is my birthday. I'm happy. And even more so? Happy that I get to share this day with a certain spunky redhead who has given me more than she will ever really know or understand. So .. happy birthday, Chase Alexandra Winters. Thank you for letting me know you and love you.