I'd like to ask for something different for my birthday this year. Since I live so far away now, and not even Mark will be here that day, I wanted to figure out a way to still celebrate my 29th instead of just starting the countdown until my 30th birthday. I found a way that this year I could celebrate with you all like never before.

I'd like to ask you for a birthday drink... And since all I ever order at the bar is water... And since I already have plenty of water here (I work on a lake!)... I ask that instead you send it over to those that could really use it... And so, I've donated my birthday to charity: water. Right now they're running a campaign that benefits Rwanda, a country near and dear to my heart so it is a perfect fit. The best part is that 100% of the money we raise will directly fund water projects in Rwanda, and when those projects are complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the impact we made.