Dear Lesley, Many many year ago I had the honor of watching you, Scott and Alison. You were a fun little bunch. I came across your blog recently and so glad to see you are well. You have a beautiful family and it's nice to see that you still are the sweet girl that I use to watch. What a lovely post. Your an amazing person. Happy belated birthday. Tomarra

Jonathan, You have warmed my heart. Thank you for loving my daughter so tenderly. And to Lesley..... You are a gift from God, and truly a blessing to everyone lucky enough to know you. We both love you dearly. xoxoxox Mom & Dad

I'm a little late, but still determined to post something to express how thankful I am for YOU. Lesley, I've already told you how thankful I am that you and J ushered Aaron and me into a community here in Sacramento. Without the Bible study girls and corresponding husbands, we would no doubt feel quite lonely here away from family. Instead we feel loved and known and we have you and J to thank for that. There are many things, however, that I have never taken the time to thank you for. For starters: your kind thank you notes (because its a little awkward to thank someone for a thank you, right?). They are always very specific and purposeful in the way they encourage. You have truly mastered the art of the thank you note, which I think is due to the fact that you have a deep understanding of the importance of reciprocity in relationships. Second, I've never thanked you for always remembering to readdress topics we talk about when you sense that I'm not done processing. You help me to come back to complex issues so that I learn more and go deeper. Third, you make me feel like I can stand tall when I am talking with a group of women. I often slouch or widen my stance so that I am less conspicuous, but I don't have to do that with you because you're long, like me :) And finally, I am grateful to you because you make me feel accepted as I am. I only wish every woman knew such unconditional acceptance in friendship. Love you my friend. Happy, happy birthday to you.

Leslie (and now Jonathan), you guys are my favorite people I've never met. Leslie, through your heart and writing, I have been blessed, inspired, and challenged in the last several months. Thank you for the level of transparency with which you share here. Jonathan, thanks to Leslie, you look reeeeeal good. Over and over and over she makes you look good. Then you go and do something like THIS and realize, you really are pretty incredible. Thanks for this. ps pretty sure its ridiculous our families have not connected.

Lesley, I´m a few days late--but I figure since birthdays are worth celebrating the whole month its ok. Happy Birthday! I think at Westmont I kind of knew who you were, but I have really enjoyed reading and shareing bits of life via our blogs since then. May you be wonderfully blessed and surprised in this next decade!

Good work, Jonathan! He is so right- you are such an encourager and one sexy mama! I appreciate so much about you, Lesley- you are compassionate and kind and thoughtful. You are articulate and determined and strong. You are humble and joyful and you sing the best rendition of "Crucified" that I've ever heard. When God was picking out the girls to live in Page hall in 2000, He must have been grinning. So many girls in that hall call you friend and I am so blessed to be among them!

Okay, first, you are blessed with a wonderful husband. I can tell from his writing how much he loves you and that is such a testimony of God in both of your lives! Happy birthday Leslie! I know you don't know me, but I'm one of Alysun (Peters) friends. She shot a lot of the pictures at my wedding. That's how I found you :) The 30s are actually great, speaking as one who is 35 and don't feel like it! This is all about you! Happy Birthday! God is a good God and He's obvious in your life! He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. He is faithful! Continue to celebrate life!

I missed seeing this yesterday, Leslie, but I hope you had a great birthday. Good job, Jonathan, on the blog. You are a sweetheart. God has brought you two even closer to Him & each other through your illness, it seems. Enjoy your thirties, Leslie. The years only get better. Love, Aunt Dianne

Lesley, I read this yesterday as I was finishing up Anna's pictures and I didn't get a chance to comment because I wanted to finish up with the pictures and get them to you before I left my comment....so I wrote on my "to-do" list to make sure I come back and leave a comment! I know God wanted us to meet, and I'm so thankful we did a few years ago at Tupelo's! You are a great example of a Godly woman, and I look up to that! Thank you for being you, and for always being so kind and honest! I look forward to seeing you soon! xoxo, Kelli

You are kind, open, honest, and remarkably intelligent and beautiful. Happy birthday, friend.

Awww...this was just too sweet. Lesley, you are hands-down one of the most amazing women I've ever met. You have a gift of really seeing people and meeting them where they are at. I can't tell you how much your gift of Bittersweet, with your sweet comments throughout the book, meant to me. I still look through it now and then and am reminded of the meaning of friendship. You have blessed so many people around you and I can only imagine the ways in which you have blessed Jonathan and Anna. God's work is all over your life. "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her . . . " Proverbs 31:28 Love you, friend. So glad you had an amazing bday! Kel

This is a prayer for the most blessed birthday yet!

When I think of you Leslie, I think of your courage and tenacity. A fresh look at things around you. An appreciation and a thoughtfulness mixed in with honesty and authenticity. Thank you for being you. Here's to 30. A new decade. A new season.

Jonathan, best gift ever. Happy 30th Birthday!! What I love about you is you don't take things or people for granted. You love people well. And it's genuine -- it's not an act, or for show. It comes through in the topics you write about; it comes through in the sweet, encouraging cards you send; it comes through in the way you bring people together. To quote my favorite writer, "We have very little in common, and it’s been like that since we met at Springbrook Elementary School in sixth grade..." While I'm glad you don't share my arrogance, I only wish you knew how amazing you are and how lucky we are to call you Friend.

Happy Birthday Lesley! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and joy for life!!

Les, you are a phenomenal wife and mother. Your deep love for Jonathan and your positive attitude regardless of the circumstance inspire me. Your honesty and depth are a breath of fresh air. Your humor and style make us kindred spirits. Thanks for the giving us the gift of your words and sharing your journey so faithfully. Wish we lived closer & could sip coffee by day or pinot by night and talk life. Celebrate you in big ways today :) And embrace your 30's - it's our time to shine.

Happy Birthday Lesley! I admire your courage with the way you approach life. You always seem unafraid to try new things and spend your time in ways that are valuable. I'm encouraged in my creative endeavors by your fearlessness. All this, and you're a good friend. I love you. xo

Oh great! I burst into tears on the title alone. Lesley, you have joined our family with a smile in your face and I've never seen that waiver. You are the epitome of grace and style and are further blessed by making it look effortless! May God bless you richly. Even moreso then He already has. Happy 30th Birthday!

Welcome, welcome to this new and glorious decade! I hope that you feel loved, celebrated and known! You are a beauty, radiating love and God's goodness. I am blessed to call you my friend. Happy Birthday, sweet Lesley:) xoxo

Lesley, thank you for sharing yourself and your life through this blog. I feel like I learn something new every time I read it- like now I want to pray with my hands open more, after reading your last post. You are strong yet gentle, and always classy. God be with you- thirties RULE!

Well, that was just the sweetest. Les, I am so fortunate to have a beautiful friend like you in my life. You never cease to amaze me with your strength and overall positive attitude. Last year I watched you transition into motherhood just a few months before you received "the news" that turned your whole life upside down. You did it all with grace and unwavering faith, and I have never been prouder to call you my friend. This world is a better place with you in it, and I am so blessed to know you! 30 is going to be a GREAT year. p.s. J is right. You ARE sexier than ever. Let's find at least one more occasion for you to wear your birthday dress this year, okay? ;)

wow, wow, wow...that's about all I can say. first, Jonathan, YOU are amazing. I am proud of you for many things but mostly for loving my sweet niece the way you do! Lesley, you are truly an inspiration in many ways, for many people. may this blog birthday party be a beautiful one for you. Keep up the good work, allowing Christ to shine for ALL to see...here, in your home and your neighborhood. HaPpY 30th BiRtHdaY!!! XO

Jonathan, wow. What a gift. Made me cry! I love you too, so much, you know that. And everyone else, thank you too. What sweet comments. They make my day!

happy birthday (month), lesley. your beauty radiates in all that you do.

Lesley, Happy Happy Birthday!!! I am a college student from the Midwest, and look forward to your uplifting posts. You are so honest about the rough times and best times in your life. When I'm having a bad day, I'll go through past posts, and read about Bible passages, or devotions that pulled you out of the darkness. Keep the posts coming! I love them!! LH from SD

Happy Birthday, Leslie. Have a wonderful day!

Just a minute while I wipe my eyes.... There we go. Happy Birthday Leslie. I think that this is probably the first time I have posted a comment, but I read your blog all the time and love the way you see things and the way that you express what is on your heart. It has been fun to follow a bit of your life and it is plain to see that you are a wonderful wife, mother and friend. You and Jonathan and Anna have been in our prayers and Ken and I wish you a wonderful 30th year!!!

Seeing as I'm a new reader here I can't say lots about you Lesley, but you're a great writer and obviously a loving wife and mum. I hope you have a wonderful birthday and enjoy entering your thirties, I've been in 'em a couple years now and think they're great ;)