Today is my sisters birthday. She is special to me, and I'm going to publicly tell you how wonderful she is, just so that
A. you can be jealous that I have a sister like her, and
B. Because I know she'll see this tomorrow, because she is one of my greatest blog stalkers. :)
If you don't know Kelly let me tell you a little bit about her.
She is beautiful, and let me tell you why. She has beautiful dark hair, that is matched by beautiful dark and sparkly eyes. She has always had beautiful clear skin, which I was always jealous of growing up. And she has my mom's beautiful high cheek bones.
Side Note: When Jaron saw this picture he said, "Look how cute you are in your little maternity shirt, and your cute hat". I started laughing. "That's not me sweetie, that's Kel". I was very flattered.
She is a one of the best moms I know and let me tell you why. She listens to her kids, to their needs and their problems. She spends time with each one of them every night before they go to bed. Singing lullabies, reading scriptures, chatting, and saying prayers. She does cute things for her kids, like when she found out what the gender of her baby was (picture below). She didn't just simply tell her kids "It's a . . . boy" like I did. No, she made heart sugar cookies and she wrote on each one "It's a . . . boy!" Not only that, but she seriously whipped up these delicious sugar cookies in less than an hour from start to finish. Which brings me to my next point.
She is one of the best cooks I know, and let me tell you why. Every night we were there our meal was accompanied by a delicious homemade bread. One night it was some sort of cranberry-nut- bread, which was absolutely delicious. Another night it was homemade french bread with yummy, hearty homemade soup. Another night it was these deliciously moist, soft, and fluff white rolls which she served as french dipped sandwiches. The last night it was this absolutely scrumptious and delicious
whole grain bread,which is my new favorite bread recipe. Yum, I tell you! And when it comes to cooking in Kelly and Jared's house, there ain't no short cuts. If it can be homemade, it tastes better, therefore it is homemade.
She is a good example to me, and let me tell you why. Growing up Kelly was never one to push the modesty rules in our household. She was a classy dresser, but she was always modest. I think it just came naturally for her. I remember thinking how beautiful she was, and wanting to be like her. She has also always been exemplary in her testimony of the gospel. I often found her reading her scriptures in her room alone or saying her prayers. I remember times when she would invite me to come read scriptures with her in her bedroom. It was so flattering to me that my older sister wanted to spend time with me, and I cherished those moments.
She has also been an example to me in how diligently and faithfully she fulfills her church callings, while at the same time managing to keep her life well balanced. She recently was released from being the Young Women's president in her ward, and I don't doubt how much those girls must have benefited from her love and diligence to that calling. I remember calling her many times when I was in Young Women's myself to get advice, and she gave me some of the best advice about the calling that I ever received.
Lastly,
She is home to me, and let me tell you why. When I need a break for a minute from a hectic day, I don't sit down and watch TV, I call Kel. When I need someone who I know will just understand the way I'm thinking or what I'm feeling, I call Kel. When I need advice on mothering, cooking, wifeing, serving, finances, I call Kel.
She is home, because she knows me. In fact some times I think she knows me better than I know myself. She has wisdom and love, and gives just the right advice when I ask for it. Take a look in my one "sentimental box" that is full of letters, birthday cards, and special notes that I have saved all of these years, and you will find that 70% of them are from Kel. They are priceless to me. I often turned to those letters when I was away at college and feeling homesick. It was those letters that made me feel at home again.
I love you Kel. I'm so glad you were born. You really mean the world to me. Thank you being you.
Happy Birthday Sister.
My only complaint is that you live on the wrong coast. Come over to the fun coast will ya?
