from the Slacker

Ginger, 

I tried to do a special "Conversations with Nala" but I got interrupted midway through, and then Nala wouldn't participate after that.  So, it didn't work out.  But I still may work on one for a later date.  

Anyway, I'm very happy that you're Tricia's best friend.  And still happy that you're not a man or she's not a man.  

Happy Birthday!  Can't wait to see you soon! 

Love, M@

from Beunos Aires

Happy Birthday from Buenos Aires, Argentina!!! 

I thought these pictures would remind you of the days of youth, ha! 

You were always the older, wiser brothel mate that we loved and still love to this day. 

I hope your 30th is unforgettable and everything you hoped it would be. 

Love you Ginger!

 -Mo

Happy Birthday Ginja!

My Dear Friend Ginja

Is truly a ninja!

We met, and the ping!

What a friend God did bring!

I'm as happy as a clam

When we're tilling the land

You're as strong as an ox

And you wear really cool socks!

You run like the breeze

And you're not afraid of fleas!

You can really bust a move

Man do you groove!

How I love to adventure and live life with you!

Thank you for being my friend so true

I love you!

Love, Alainie

Wishes

Happy Birthday Ginger!! 

I hope you have a great day and a special celebration. 

I hope you enjoy the attached pictures.

Going Blonde?

So maybe this is a new season in your life ginger...Hit the thirties with blonde!
  They do say blonde's have more fun!!!!

from Alicia

Happy 30th Birthday GingeRutHenry!!

Ginger...you are one amazing lady and I am truly grateful to have you in my life.  You are one of my favorite people in this world and a lot of my favorite times and memories have you in them! You are genuine, compassionate, silly, intelligent (minus the only eating nuts and no fluids prior to OR work!)  and so much more!  You are quite unique and can without a doubt say that I know no one else quite like you.  And I mean that in a very good way!  I know I have said it before, but I am so amazed and inspired by your service with Mercy Ships and your heart that drives you!

I am so grateful for all of the times we have been able to share.  The Cookie Tour of 2011 definitely is at the top of the list.  I still can't believe I was able to get there and am so glad I got to share it with you.  You were the best traveling pal!  

Here are a few other times/things at the top of my Ginger list...When that dog rearranged the furniture on New Year's Eve in Charleston, SC, Mamie Thurman exhibit in Logan County, friendly employee at Scranton Welcome Center, you finding your white cardigan in the alley (I mean really!), picking "Kroger" apples with you, your mom's prize winning jelly and your dad's line about Jumping in the shower and of course introducing me to Tricia...just to name a few! 

I hope you have a wonderful 30th Birthday!! Pretty cool that you are celebrating in Africa! I was a work for mine :) Just another reason you are one unique lady! I hope you know how much you are loved.  I look forward to more adventures and random times with you my friend. And maybe just maybe a trip to WI.   Love and miss you!  Alicia

from Jane

Happy 30th Birthday Ginger Spice. 

Who can say they had their 30th Birthday at John Obey Beach, Sierra Leone!!

Thank you for all the fun and joy we have had together over the 3yrs that we have known each other....I look forward to many more years of fun!

You are amazing. Have a great day and be blessed

Love you lots and lots 

Jane xo

30 Memories with the Birthday Girl

• Rearranging furniture for 2 hours
  only to have it end up exactly like it started!  (The first day we met!) 
• Krispy Kreme/ Walmart runs with Beebs and other Gburgers
• Morning walks on the trail
• Countless hours of playing games and crafting
• Boobmonster & Puddles
• Driving to Colorado (especially the Prairie Dog Farm, St. Louis arch)
• GBurg Reunion in Saluda
• Istanbul (not Constantinople)
• "S" trip in the Bahamas with the pirates
• Disney World trip
• Hiking up that dang mountain with only one bottle of Propel
• Dr. Pepper museum
• Fort Worth Zoo
• Tanzania (no Pepsi, no Hamisi) 
• Memorial Day boat outings (SIR!!!) 
• Stars & Cigars
• Wedding Cake madness
• USC/Wofford football game
• "Secret" maid of honor
• Debbie's wedding
• Ripley's Aquarium in Gburg
• Snowstorms in West Virginia
• Cinco de Mayo
• birthday club
• Magnolia Gardens with Jennifer
• Riverdogs and Kaminsky's
• "Just Married"
• Parasailing!
• STINT farewell
• Lots of LaUgHtEr!

Slideshow of Pictures

Larry and Amy Photos

Making it Look Easy

Making it look easy, as usual.

Happy Birthday, Ginger!

Larry and Amy

(experiencing technical difficulties on this one, but it will be fixed.)

a birthday as bright as you

Dear Ginger,
Though you're not in this photograph, the smiles here are all yours. You are such a generous, warm, and lovely woman, and I feel very lucky to be part of your extended family! I hope your 30th birthday is as fun and sunny and laugh-filled as you are, and that this next decade brings you all kinds of joy. Happy, happy birthday to you! 

♥elizabeth

Birthday Message from Steven

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINGER!!!  Miss your face! Hope you come home soon, even if you have to swim through shark infested waters!!

Steven Flagler

Mom and Dad

from Valerie

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINGER!

Thanks for being such a special part our lives!

You are such a wonderful, beautiful inspiration in all you are and all you do.

WE LOVE YOU!
Valerie Tyndall

Coolio

You'll always be my coolio! :)

HAPPY 30TH GINGER! 

I love and miss you so much. 

Wishing you a great day and a wonderful year.

From Hettie

Dearest Ginger,

What to say? Happy Birthday! I love Birthdays hope this one and everyone other continues to fill you with joy.

"Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!" Psalm 47:1-2

love you ( a lot, smile) Hett

From Amber

Ginger,

I have never met anyone who so touches a life with just one meeting.  If you know Ginger, you love Ginger!  I really do think some people in my own family are more looking forward to seeing you at the wedding than the actual wedding.  And I don't blame them.

 

You are a beautiful, genuine, and compassionate lady.  You make people smile...and have some great expressions of your own.  Several people have commented that my jokes are not the same without your reaction to them.  You make everything BETTER.

 

Some of my favorite memories include sharing a twin bed on a ship and being so glad we were there and not in the black of night somewhere in Tanzania alone, "oh here's one" anytime it was said, cruising along Hwy 1 in our convertible singing Usher, countless cigars, Suppa Clubs, and helping each other heal from hurts.

 

You are the one...the only...the Ginge!

 

I pray this year brings you many blessings (as you have been a blessing to others)!

 

Love you!

Amber

 

From Krissy

Dear Ginger,  

One of my very earliest memories of you is attending your first birthday party in West Virginia .  I would say it was your 7th  birthday.  I am so happy to celebrate your birth day 23 years later! !  Through the years you have always been an inspiration.  You have made such a mark on this world for the better.  It is an honor and blessing to say you are a friend.  Happy Birthday!    

Krissy 

30 Things from Andrea

Ginger,

Happy 30th Birthday!!!! I still have a whole other year but Alicia already made that journey and seems to be doing ok to her 30s. I hope your day is filled with lots of celebrating and fun.  and cake.  and presents. Most of all I hope it's special beause you are! I love you friend! Andrea

Here are 30 things I remember / love about Ginger:

1. I love your laugh.

2. With us, you are always voted best all-around

3. Love how you seem to know people all over

4. How you will decide last minute to do something.

5. Love how you've given these years on of your life to serve on Mercy-ships (I secretly hate this one too!)

6. I remember my favorite gift, the gift of you for my birthday 2008!!

7. 75% off on New Year's

8. You're just so cool! That's all there is.

9. Love how you remember me from playing soccer long long time ago & that we share the love of soccer.

10. Hiking with you!!

11. Sharing my favorite #11 with your birthday!

12. Love how patient you are.

13. I love that you can be gone but when we see each other it doesn't feel like it.

14. Thinking we were at the top of Grandfather Mountain but really we weren't

15. Remember our coffee and cake talk time!

16. I love how you laugh when things are awkward.

17. How the little things are fun with you.

18. Freezing Pittsburgh New Year's.

19. Matching Target shirts and making hats!

20. Sharing Gatlinburg 02 with you!

21. I love how easy you are to talk to.

22. You and Amy Lilly trying on "things" bought for Sarah Wilt's wedding :)

23. Love visiting you and your cool family in Poc. county.

24. I love how much you love and care about your family and friends.

25. I love how you are always up for doing anything.

26.Happy Logan New Year!! and the crippled children's home

27. "Stop the joy Lord!!!" still waiting on that fyi

28. Being in Slovakia with you!

29. I love that you love desserts!

30. I JUST LOVE AND MISS YOU!!!

From Jamie Hatcher

Dearest GINGERUTHENRY!
Happiest of Birthdays to you, my sweet friend!  Oh how I miss you!  I know this birthday will be a very special one for you because not only are you marking a milestone with the big 3-0, but you are celebrating it on a big ship somewhere far, far away.  I hope it's the most exciting bday ever and that this blog is just one of the many outpourings of love you receive.

I am so thankful for you, and thankful that you are the kind of friend that will be in my life forever because no matter how much time has passed, we can pick right back up from wherever we left off.  I love thinking back to the beginning of our friendship in good ol' Mount Pleasant, SC.  If my memory serves me correctly, we took our bikes downtown and I gave you my old spiel from my carriage tour days.  What fun!  I was so nervous about leading my very first small group but I knew right away that you were a kindred spirit and that with you there, I would be less afraid.  What a sweet season of community we got to experience as a result of that group.

We even got out of Charleston every now and then for fun little excursions like camping :)

And you came with me to my very favorite restaurant on my birthday that year (2005).

When God led me to Texas, and it was so very hard to leave the deep friendships I had formed with all of you girls.  Here we are on my last night at ECBC. 

It wasn't too much longer until He led you to your grand adventure on Mercy Ships.  How FUN that He would allow our paths to cross again here in Texas during your training!  It was the blessing of all blessings to be able to have you here on my birthday two years ago.  I loved every second of having you here and spending that time with you before you left the country.

You mean so much to me, and I truly consider you one of my close friends in this world!  I love you and miss you terribly.  Hope your birthday is wonderful, sweet friend!

-Jamie