Ah, me! The percentage of people I adore born in the wintry month of January is rather LARGE, is it not?

Amanda, whose birthday I will now celebrate, called me the day before her birthday to “let me off the hook.” She is a regular reader of this old blog and knowing my penchant for birthday tributes she said, “Just pretend like my birthday is another day!”

AS IF!

There is a phrase in Spanish that describes my feelings for Amanda perfectly – “Mi media naranja” – it is actually the English equivalent of “my other half”  -but the direct translation is to say that the person is the other half of one’s orange. I have always thought this is one of the world’s cutest sayings. Amanda is an orange to me! She is like my tall glass of orange juice at the start of the day, talking to her always gives me a boost. She is like the orange at the bottom of my Christmas stocking, knowing her and loving her is an absolute TREAT. Further more, I believe that if Amanda were to be a fruit she would choose to be an orange, as she adores the color so! So media naranja it is!

The very first time that she and I were spotted hanging out together – one of AJ’s neighbors asked her, “Is your sister in town?” She was referring to little old me. Oh, how truly inspired that neighbor was. She was not the first to think we were related. In fact, I have lost count of the times that people have asked us if we are sisters. OR even more extreme when people have thought I was Amanda or the times that people thought Amanda was me. It is SERIOUSLY nuts.

(who’s who? This is tricky of me – but we switched babies, did we getcha?!)

I don’t mind one little bit being confused for AJ because I think she is a FOX. Please, confuse me for her any day of the week, dear people of the world. I believe her to be my superior in “the babe department” so it sends a thrill right through me when people think that I am her.

Let me tell you a little bit about her.

She is a wonderful contradiction of true self discipline and relaxed laid-back-ness. She lives her life with order and purpose, but she knows when to throw it all out the window and let go. For example, her house is always very tidy and orderly (and her kitchen floor is so clean I would feel comfortable eating off of it) and yet when something comes up or someone needs her help, she can let things go while she reaches out to the person in need.  She raises her kids with a sense of boundaries and discipline, for example, how many four year olds do you know who ask their parents to take them home from a party because they are ready to go to bed? Just saying, this kind of thing doesn’t just miraculously occur. It is the result of training. Her self discipline has most recently manifest itself in her ability to loose over 50 lbs, I have actually lost track of how much she has lost. She has shed way more than those pesky “baby weight” pounds and I am here to report that she is looking gooooood!

She is REAL. What I mean by this is that when Amanda tells you how she feels about something – she is going to tell you the truth.  I find this so refreshing. I feel like her commitment to honesty  has given me the freedom and opportunity to try to be more honest myself. More than once I have been in a situation where I’ve had a choice of sugar coating something or just being straightforward and saying what I really felt – I thought of Amanda and chose to be honest! That is kind of awesome, don’t you think? Just the kind of thing you hope your friends will do for you – help you be a better human being.

She is devoted. If I know anything for certain, I know that Amanda has my back. That she will look out for my best interests and that she will defend me to the bitter end. When something horrible happens she’s one of the first people I call and equally if something wonderful happens she is right there at the top of my list of people with whom I must share my good news. She is also devoted to her family and to her God. She has always wanted to please God – even as a child, when for a time, those closest to her were fading in their convictions, Amanda stayed true to the gospel.  I don’t know what else to say except that she is a rock.

She is funny. I still remember one time she told me this story where I laughed so hard my back started to hurt and Jan came up from his office to see what in the world was going on. I think I might have even fallen to the floor laughing.

Amanda is one of my style icons. I watch how she dresses and what she is doing and then I copy her. Actually I think we might be on some kind of clairvoyance in the style department as we are constantly buying the SAME things without knowing the other person has bought them. Whether for ourselves or our children – we are drawn to the same stuff. This makes a shopping trip ever so enjoyable. My idea of heaven is being at the Mall with AJ and other our bud, Emily – no kids in tow and laughing till we think we might pee our pants. The other crazy clairvoyance thing we’ve got going on is that we show up at church wearing identical outfits on a regular basis. I still don’t know how we do it, but it happens all the stinkin’ time. (This may be one of the reasons that we are always being confused for the other person.)

Amanda is a kick-butt mom. She is one of the very best, in my humble opinion. Her kids are awesome. Once I overheard some people talking about her kids and wondering, “Why are they so good?” I HAD  to step in and say, “Umm, I think it may have to do with the fact that their mom is AWESOME.” Ya think? She is the kind of mom who doesn’t take any c***. She was very wise to marry Craig who is an equally terrific father. It seems to me like when the parents are on the same page the results are MAGICAL. I love their kids like they were my own. And that isn’t really saying much for me and my capacity to love – it is saying a lot about the QUALITY of the kids and the way they are being raised.

She likes to scare me on a semi-regular basis by telling me that her husband is thinking of taking work positions in foreign lands. In the early days of our relationship I would panic internally during these conversations – but on the surface I would try to remain indifferent and calm. Recently, there was another scare where for a brief moment it looked like her husband was considering making a move to a far away place. I think my heart stopped beating for a moment. I came flat out and told her, “I can’t be neutral. I am not a good sounding board for you on this one.” When she later told me that her husband had decided against going for the position all of a sudden I felt like DANCING!

Here’s the thing – I cannot imagine my life without her!

I love you, my little orange julius. I don’t know where I would be or what I would do without you!

Happy Birthday!

“Things are looking up!

Things are looking up!

No need to worry. No need to scurry.

Cuz things are looking up!”

Remember my little brother, Chas? I had some stellar career advice for him, if you’ll recall. He decided against it and went ahead and  made a documentary. It is the story of a boy who lost his way, ended up in jail and miraculously found his way back to the love of his family and God. It is a story worth telling.  This past weekend it was awarded third prize in the LDS Film Festival. The first and second prize winners were made by legit professionals and had HUGE budgets. Chas’ film was his very first. Made for practically peanuts.

I am feeling mighty proud.

Mighty proud of him!

There was a fair amount of opposition to Chas’ little film. The professor who’d been assigned to mentor the project pretty much let Chas know he thought his idea for a doc was RUMMY.

Hmmmm.

Funny that.

I won’t dwell on it, but dear friends who are reading this post, I bring it up to remind you to

BELIEVE IN YOURSELVES!

And silence the voice of the professor types (a.k.a critics) who condemn your efforts before you’ve even begun.

Because you never know when your dreams will be realized.

When your work will be recognized.

And when people will applaud your efforts.

And ultimately when the work you do MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!

Three cheers for the winner of third prize AND a people’s choice award! Three cheers to all the people who helped him bring this work to fruition – many of whom are pictured here!

LONG LIVE DREAMS! LONG LIVE THE GOODNESS THAT BEATS IN OUR HEARTS And LONG LIVE THE STORIES THAT ARE WORTH TELLING!

Congrats, Chas!

The badge don’t lie, suckaz! It says, “FILMMAKER”  and it’s what you ARE, bro!

(Pictures borrowed from Sam’s blog…Thanks Sammy! See you two cuties in four days – looking forward to that big event that we’re all gathering for!)

P.S. Chas, your big sis digs your new hair cut! You look sharp, my friend.

(The month of January is a busy one for Birthdays, I tell ya.)

And today I am celebrating my dear and wonderful friend –

Neylan Gwyneth McBaine.

Actually, I have given her the middle name of Gwyneth because she really doesn’t care for her middle name. I remember when we were young (as in 15 years old or so) trying to tease the desired info out of her,”what is your middle name? tell me, tell me, tell me please!!!” She didn’t tell me for months – which was a big deal because we told each other E V E R Y T H I N G!  Eventually she relented and told me. Personally I think her middle name is a perfectly delightful middle name, but I am not going to tell you what it is. Sorry. She really doesn’t like it and it is her birthday so I am not going to spill the beans. I want this tribute to fill her with joy, not tick her off.

I will tell you why I have chosen this new middle name for her. To me, she is the closest person I’ve got to Gwyneth Paltrow. She is the Gwyneth in my life. She was born and raised in Manhattan across the street from Lincoln Center (Just like Gwyn who was born and raised in NYC).  She is a New Yorker through and through. (Just like Gwyn) Her mom is a beautiful famous opera singer who sang around 400 performances at the MET (just like Gwyn who has a famous mommy). She attended fancy schools, one you might have heard of called Chapin – which is the school that Jackie Kennedy attended. (Gwyn actually attended Chapin’s sister school a few blocks away called Spence – so again, just like Gwyn). Unlike Gwyn, Neylan actually graduated from college – but college is where she met her husband Elliot, who is, in my book, a rock star. (Again like Gwyn who is married to a rock star) She is also the only person I know, with whom I am on a first name basis, who owns a pair of those hip and groovy “booties”, at least I think that is what they are called.

Truly, Ney is cool. She just KNOWS what is going on. For example she knows where to eat, where to go, who is doing what, who is performing where, what the critics said, etc, etc, etc. She reads EVERTYHING, and then get this, she remembers it, calls or emails me and says, “Hey, I think this would be a fun thing to do.” and then I say, ‘Okay! I’m down!” If Neylan is around I know this much: fun will be had! Perhaps I should give her yet another middle name, Adventure – she could be like those Spanish ladies with a million names – Neylan Gwyneth Adventure McBaine.

I am liking it!!

The woman has, what seems to me, an unlimited reservoir of energy. She is constantly on the move. Not only is she reading everything under the sun – she is taking her three daughters (and me when I am lucky) to the museum, or the ballet, or the opera, or to violin lessons, or helping out with the PTA. Once, after returning home from a long journey to Europe, she called me and was wondering if I wanted to go to some far flung place in the city. “Didn’t you just get back from Spain?!?! Aren’t you tired?!?!” I asked innocently. Cricket – cricket. “Nope!”

She was still raring to go.  All I could think was, “Caramba!”

Neylan Gwyneth Adventure Caramba McBaine – ay, ay, ay!!

In combination with this energy of hers is a great brain and massive drive. She likes to accomplish. She likes to have a project. She likes to work hard. May I show you her latest endeavor. It is truly inspiring –

This is something she has been working on for the past few months. It is so neat! I think because Neylan hasn’t ever lived the “typical” Mormon experience – not many LDS peeps are born and raised in Manhattan and own an Armani tuxedo at the age of 15 etc. Neylan has always marched to the beat of her own drum whilst remaining true to the principles of the Gospel. BYU Cougar she is not yet testimony she most definitely has. It bugs her hard core that there are so many misconceptions about our church and so she has done something about it. She has started this website as a place for people to go – both members of our church and those who do not belong to our church but are curious to learn more – to get accurate info about our people. And specifically she wants the world to know about the women of our church.

Just check it out. I DARE you not to be inspired by the goodness of these women. They are all so DIFFERENT and interesting and may I say, fascinating! (Yes I may, this is MY blog). Even when I went to the site to get the logo and the URL I had to tear myself away. “Must write tribute – must not spend the next three hours reading, crying and rejoicing in Neylan’s wonderful labor of love.” I think of this site as the equivalent of a bag of potato chips – you can’t eat just one! At least I cannot read just one. Please, check this out! You won’t be disappointed.

http://www.mormonwomen.com

Neylan and I share a long **history** this means that we have seen it all, peeps! And through ups and downs and all around somehow we have remained friends. I owe this to her. She was the one who held on and kept reaching out to me when for a while I walked away. Because she kept the door open – there could be forgiveness. Thank you for being that brave.

Neylan and I met at a church dance when we were 14. I had spent most of my middle school and high school years lonely. I longed for a friend who would want to do the things I wanted to do, with whom I could share the things that mattered most to me, who would love God the way I did and wanted the same things from life that I wanted. I prayed many prayers for such a friend. And then I met her – in the gym at the Manhattan Chapel.

Oh, the times that were had! There aren’t many people with whom you could share the c0-presidency of the Kenneth Branagh Appreciation society, I can tell you that much.

We had many a sleep over, many a late night chat, many runs through Central Park – singing – yes, we sang, many trips to the theatre – where we met dashing actors who bopped us on our heads with a poster. This would carry on in our later years – meeting dashing actors, that is.

“Sigh no more ladies, Sigh no more!”

But sigh we did, and frequently. These were not sad sighs – they were the sighs that dreams are made of. We were romantics through and through.

No joke. We had fun. Perhaps we would have been laughed to scorn by other mightier cooler types. But we wouldn’t have cared, even if they did, we were too busy swing dancing at Lincoln Center, or reading Shakespeare or watching “A Room with a View”.

Neylan is a very talented concert pianist. I know this because I have heard her play many times. Sometimes I was  in the audience and sometimes in my favorite spot – UNDER the piano. We liked to pretend like she was Chopin and I was George Sands (okay, we were cheesy, but come on! what’s a heart for?!?!) . If you ever get the chance to lie under the piano whilst Neylan plucks the ivories TAKE IT.

That is all I am saying about that.

Fast forward to 2010.

Neylan is also a dedicated mother to three beautiful girls. Girls that are loved by me and mine. Having posted about them at length in other places, I won’t go into it too much here. But these girls of hers are top drawer. (Me loves!!)

They are wonderful in the pattern of their own dear mother. Whose birthday I am honored to celebrate and whose friendship I cherish!

Happy birthday, Neylan Gwyneth Adventure Caramba McBaine! I love ya!

Do you ever wonder what goes on while I am putting a post together?

Today, for your viewing pleasure, I shall DEMYSTIFY the experience and take you behind the scenes of yesterday’s delightful post.

As I snap pictures, whilst my baby sleeps, suddenly a sound is heard from above!

It is not a happy sound:

Taken out of the crib, the Maker of the noise is not satisfied to be merely near my presence,

Suddenly Millie shows up – with not ONE but THREE head bands on her head – including the head band that I have been trying to capture on film for my blog post.

Gorgeous!

For Clara things are looking up, but she is still suspicious of that silly camera

Back down stairs to finish off those pictures, now someone else takes a fancy to the head band!

Then she tries on the necklace – which she decides that she’s not very fond of so she throws it on the ground and then stamps upon it.

Lovely!

The only thing which appears to be in focus are her lips and they just look so kissable to me – despite the fact that she is putting on her “thug” face. And that, my friends is a mother’s love. Unreasonable, unstinting and positively devoted – only a mother could love her little thug.

I would like to request that heaven please send me more of that mother’s love.  I am in need of more of it.

On a side note, would you like to see something truly delightful?

I was watching an interview of Brian Kershisnik, which Millie watched with me until she said, “Mom, I REALLY NEED to PAINT!”

So she trotted off and made this self portrait.

It is making me feel very, very happy.

Does it have the same effect on you?

Also making me happy:

These flowers in a vase

and these flowers on my skirt (which I wore yesterday despite the freezing cold temperature)

And that is what was happening yesterday behind the scenes!

I am on a mission.

My mission involves two specific colors:

cobalt blue

&

mustard yellow

WHY?

Because 10 days from today my little brother is marrying this goddess of a bride to be,

And I for one, would like to please her.

(I so enjoy pleasing a beautiful goddess, don’t you?)

She picked cobalt blue and mustard yellow as her wedding colors. Aren’t they fun? I love them!

Because I am me, I cannot be content to just look for something for myself. OH, NO! I must outfit the entire wedding party. So dear sisters and sisters-in-law (and sisters of my future sister-in-law) if you see something you like here let me know and it shall be thine.

Here is what I have come up with so far.

These two sweaters from Ann Taylor (on a super sale)

Any takers? I was thinking of Brynn, Allison or Tess…

Now, Sam – I know that gray is neither cobalt blue nor yellow – but as the groom will be in gray I thought that a little gray chucked into the mix will not mess with things too much – at least I hope this will be the case, cuz my dress is gray, and so are the flower girls dresses (if you’ll recall)

I found this necklace. Mom, you have any interest in this puppy?

Found these gloves at J. Crew for $12.00. I was planning on wearing these, but can get more if anyone has interest in them. There was also a matching scarf. Any takers?

Ah, the ELECTRIC BLUE tights – got these for $6.00. I don’t think I can pull these off (or on for that matter). But I thought that maybe Betta or Rosie might just have the sort of fashion daring to make these work. Again, if more than one person wants these, I can get more.

I think that I am going to wear this head band, as modeled by the lovely Millie.

On a side note, check this out – does not this mustard yellow frame look perfect with your engagement photo, dear Sam and Chas?

It is placed right here, on my desk so that I might look upon it on a regular basis. It fills me with J O Y!

The end.

For now.

*

*

Just kidding there is a P.S. to this post as well.

Brynn, looksies what I finally got for you –

Those herringbone tights!! Only I paid around 7 dollars for them (they were 30% of 9.99, suckaz!) I will bring them out with me when we see you next weekend.

Are you thinking what I am thinking? ANOTHER birthday tribute?! But wait. This one is for my dear, kind, sweet sister-in-law, ALLISON.  That name may ring a bell, she has been mentioned once or twice on this blog. She is one of the best people I know so I would like to celebrate her in classic Dawesome fashion and give her a right old birthday shout out.

There are some very obvious things that I could say about Allison.

Allison is a love. If I were only able to pick one word to describe her the word would be: love. She loves people in a deep and abiding way.  You can feel that when you are with her. Love beams out of her and lands on all those people she comes in contact with.

She is beautiful. And the crazy part is that every time I see her she just seems to get more and more beautiful.

She is kind. There are few people I know who are as kind as Allison. She is determined to see the best in people and in situations. She never says unkind things about people. Now this isn’t to say that she doesn’t object to certain things – she does, it is just that she has something I totally and utterly lack – the ability to keep it to herself. Once I showed her something I knew she wouldn’t be cool with. And I could see on her face that she didn’t like it AND YET she kept her cool and didn’t say anything. I was amazed, still am! She doesn’t find any pleasure in criticism. I can see her cringe when my family starts to pick a movie apart. If it is a movie she loves I sometimes worry that we are picking apart her heart.

Which brings me to the next thing I love about Allison. She is a truly devoted friend, daughter and wife. If she pledges herself to a person or a cause – she defends that person or cause with gusto. Alli, remember the time when I said that I thought that Fenway was a superior ball park to Yankee stadium? It was as if I had uttered blasphemy! She is a Yankee fan, true blue, and she couldn’t believe I would say such a thing! Meanwhile, Ian, also devoted to the team – smiled from ear to ear.  She devotes herself fully to those things she loves and believes in. Her devotion is most beatifully manifested in her relationships. She is deeply devoted to her husband.When she and Ian wed, we used to constantly tell her how much she improved Ian – how she made him a better man. But instead of flattering her this made her upset. When she married Ian she saw the man – but we still saw the little boy that we’d grown up with. The one who convinced Brynn that if she didn’t bring him cinnamon toast he might die. She just hated if we ever said anything about Ian being less than awesome! Guess what, she was right to demand, in a loving way, that we change our tune! As she saw the very best in Ian we could see it too!  She was right.

She is also devoted to her family and to her God. She loves, loves, loves her parents and her siblings.

She has got class. True class. She was raised beautifully by her parents – for example she always washes her hands before she eats anything and loves vegetables – but Allison’s class goes beyond a fantastic and careful upbringing – Allison has got class in the deepest part of her heart. She exudes the same kind of loveliness that Audrey Hepburn had – beauty mingled with a love of humanity and a heart that longs to help those around her. THAT is Allison.

She is a bright person. She gets straight “As” – and works very hard to get them, but she makes it seem like it really isn’t that big of a deal. She takes these impossible classes and tests and gets the highest marks in the class. HUH? I say to myself, how does she do it? She does it with that wonderful brain and killer work ethic of hers.

She is responsible. Just curious, what were you doing when you turned 21? I’ll tell you what Allison was up to: Married at 19 and mother of the ward at 21! Ian was called to be the bishop about two and a half years ago, the day after his 26th birthday. And there, right by his side, was Allison, radiating goodness and light. She was not out partying like many young women her age, Allison was going to nursing school full time and supporting her husband as the wife of the bishop – while serving in four other church callings. Not to brag, but she is off the charts and – did I mention? – is MY sister-in-law, cough, cough.

She is earnest and sincere. Very, very sincere.  I don’t think she has a cynical bone in her entire body. (This is her watching Milo and Otis with Millie and Nikki – I rest my case!)

She is grateful. She appreciates things. Once when we gave her a pair of pillow  “shams” for her birthday she was so excited she exclaimed, “Shams? Shams! I LIVE for shams!!” Allison is like a little kid in her ability to enjoy and appreciate. She loves life. She has fun. She sings along to music in the car, she skips down the street, she loves and lives life fully and intentionally!

She also LOVES food. She really appreciates good food – but most remarkable of all, when she feels full she STOPS eating. Even if what she is eating is really, really good. Every time she does this I marvel. I the person who cannot stop. One of the first things my mom said about her was, “I love this girl! She really appreciates her food.” It is true she does!

This is a really big birthday for Allison.

This is the year when her life will change forever.

This is the year when she will become a mother.

I am very excited for Allison to be a mom. I believe that she was born to do this. She is so kind and so nurturing. I have total confidence in her. All that love she possesses will now be channeled to the tiny human being who will be blessed to call her their, “mom.”

I am looking forward to watching this incredible world open up to you and see what you do with all the challenges and opportunities that motherhood will afford you.

Happy, happy birthday, dear sis (in-law). I sure do love ya!

P.S. She makes a mean tuna melt. Just sayin’.

I also say, Happy Birthday to her, for today is her birthday.

I suppose you will have noticed that these birthday tributes have become a sort of staple around here. What you would never know, unless you were Louise, is that she did one such tribute for me ever so many years ago on her blog. She had a blog L O N G before I even knew what a blog was and she sent me some serious love via that blog of hers.

It is from the seed of love that she planted for me many moons ago that so many other flowers have  bloomed in the form of birthday tributes here on Dawsome. Thank you, my dear friend, for what your kindness has inspired.

So, to the originator of the birthday tribute, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

A while back I asked Louise what her exact birthday was because, OF COURSE, I was planning on sending her some birthday love. She very humbly told me not to worry about doing this but then went on to ask if I would please write a tribute for her funeral! Oh, dear, NO! There is no way that  I am going to wait till you are dead to let the world know what an awesome lady you are.

This got me thinking, it is a shame that we wait until someone dies to express our deepest feelings for them. In fact, I will go further, it is a shame whenever we resist the urge to express our love to anyone. Let the world take note: expressing love is always an act of courage. And when we hold back love, we hold back the best thing we have to offer each other.

So, dearest, English Rose, my sweet Louise – prepare yourself for some L O V E !!! (you have been warned – I plan to lay it on thick, but I won’t cry into your neck or anything that extreme remembering always that you are English).

Louise has one of the world’s most remarkable memories. She remembers E V E R Y T H I N G. And when I say everything, I mean everything. She remembers dates, poetry, scriptures – it is remarkable. She is just the person you want to have around if the Gettysburg address needs remembering, or a Shakespearean sonnet. I don’t know how she does it, but I, a person who cannot remember from week to week what I have committed myself to doing – be it play dates or dates with my husband – Louise, on the other end of the spectrum has committed the entire dictionary to memory. She is an absolute wonder!

Speaking of this remarkable gift – she has taken her talents – the aforementioned great memory,her smart as a whip-ness, incredible organization, and downright professionalism and made a career of them. She is a top dog personal assistant for the tippity-top dogs themselves.  She has run hotels, taken care of famous peeps, thrown a “hen party” for Joan Collins, and kept the guys in pin striped suits on time.  I wish that I could hire her to run my life for me.  I KNOW she would make it run perfectly. She would make it hum like a fancy engine.

She is a person who lives very close to the Spirit of the Lord. She cares deeply about his will for her. She lives in a very deliberate way so that she can merit His guidance. Once she gets the direction, she follows it.  More than once she’s taught me, through her example, about the kind of person I would like to be. She is patient. Patient and willing to learn the lessons that he would have her learn.

She has a buoyant disposition. At her core she is positive. This makes her an absolute pleasure to be around. Added to this, she has a laugh the size of KENT! If an opera singer can fill the Royal Albert Hall with their singing pipes, Lou could do the same with her laugh. She throws her head back and lets it go, friends! I love it. I think it is a mark of her ability to truly enjoy life.

She is a wonderful contradiction of English propriety – beautifully genteel, sweet and reserved – and an absolute hoot!! She has got ZIP, people, with a capital Z! She can have fun with the best of them.

Louise has a very kind and loving nature. She is an appreciator. She notices things and loves to delight in even the simple daily pleasures that life offers. She is also extremely bright, or clever, as they say on the other side of the pond and a very talented writer.

She is a wonderful wife. I love what a mutual friend of ours said to her on the day she married Jonathon. This friend was single at the time and he said to Louise, ” Johnathon is the luckiest man in the world.” He added that Jonathon would only remain the luckiest man in the world until he got married — single and funny, he was! But I must say that I just loved the sentiment he expressed because it is true. Jonathon married one of the kindest most selfless women on the planet. She is SO incredibly giving. I will forever remember at the height of her mono she ran us back and forth from one end of London to another helping us move stuff in her teeny-weeny little car. You are an angel, Lou – you really are.

She is also a whop-dinger of a mom. Completely devoted to her darling little girl – she is rocking the house in the mommy department! Not too long ago Louise and Jonathon were visiting us and they are so kind to each other and enjoyed each other so much – and they were so excited to have a baby. I remember thinking I cannot wait for these two people to have kids – they will be such a powerful team. Alas, I have not had the chance to meet dear Adelaide but I keep a careful watch on her through her mommy’s blog.  One day! I hope soon we’ll finally get to meet this beguiling little fascinator! I feel confident that she gets what I call a “love shower” every day of her life – her mom, dad and extended family just pour the love down on this kid!

And look at her! What is not to love?! I’m in love with her too and I have never even met her.

Another thing I love about Louise is her open nature. She has always been aware and connected to her feelings.  I have  been impressed with her ability to analyze her deepest emotions. I am not saying that she is an open book, she keeps her cards close – but I really appreciate her ability to be aware of her feelings and her willingness to examine them. She does this a lot on her blog – and this is the main way that she and I stay in touch – so I am grateful for her honesty and openness.

Louise is a devoted friend. She is the kindest and best friend. I have never heard anyone say anything negative about her. She is so kind to everyone she knows – nobody has any dirt on her!

She is also a person who has overcome many challenges in her life and remained lighthearted and cheerful – you know that wonderful quote, “angels fly because they take themselves lightly” – that has always reminded me of Louise.

Sometimes I think you are too good to be true! You are loved by your friend Liza and I know I am one of a multitude of people who simply adore you.

Happy Birthday, my wonderful friend!!

Do you think that marriage, as an institution, ROCKS?

Do you love to see a happy marriage on the silver screen?

How about romance?

How about watching people learn to trust each other and sacrifice for the good of the other?

And beautiful costumes, good acting, some dashed fine British accents?

If you, like me, answered “yes, please” to any of the above items, do get yourself, and the one you love, to the cinema PRONTO to see —

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

And if you love it, please call me so that we  can GUSH about it together….pretty please!

Tonight as I nursed my baby she fell asleep in my arms. (Yes, I am still nursing, feel free to judge me harshly – I don’t care!)

She is no longer my tiny baby – her body spills out of my lap and her legs dangle down the side of the arm chair, but she is all the baby I’ve got – gigantic or no.

As I held her warm body next to mine I wanted to stop time.

What is it that is so magic about a sleeping baby?

Only moments ago she was ALL ENERGY, MOVEMENT, EXPLORATION, and even CREATOR OF TOTAL CHAOS.

And then –

she is still and her body is heavy.

I pressed my forehead against hers and listened to her deep breathing.

I whispered secrets in her ear.

I kissed her

and then I kissed her some more.

I marveled at her – this petite person – with a HUGE spirit and a personality I am just getting to know.

Sweet dreams, you little rascal.

My sister Tess is 19 today. Her last year of being a teenager. Crazy, huh Tess?

I have posted many times about Tess as she was living with us last Summer. Here, here, here and here.

But if you’ll permit me, I would like to tell you a bit more about her. Because, to be frank, I love her. And celebrated she must be!

I have very vivid memories of Tess’ arrival to the earth – and as I tell you some of these details I think you will see why they are still so close to my heart…19 long years later.

I remember my mom going off the the hospital. I remember Cameron trying to crack jokes as she climbed into our mini van. My mom was so focused on the labor that she didn’t even hear him. He and I watched as mom and dad pulled out of the driveway and Cam mumbled under his breath, “I was so stupid! That didn’t help at all.” I remember lying in my bed that night – my twin bed across from Summer’s – with an unexplainable feeling of unease. I felt that something was wrong. Why I would feel such a way was a mystery to me. Tess was the eighth child to join our family. I usually felt only anticipation and joy in these circumstances. So this darker feeling felt so wrong to me.  I was relieved when we got the call that the baby had been born and that all was well.

But the uneasy feeling remained.

Tess came home and was a delightful baby – but still, the feeling persisted – and finally it got to be so bad that I spoke to my mom about it. Because my mom is a rock star of a mom she listened and she did something about it. Imagine that, giving that much attention and credence to a 13 year old girl. She spoke to my dad and he gave Tess a blessing. He said that as he blessed her he could feel power flowing through him to his tiny baby girl.

A few days later my mom took Tess to her one week doctors check up. She hadn’t always been this diligent with getting her newborn babies to the pediatrician. At this appointment the doctor heard a murmur in her heart. This was the beginning of a time that my mom describes as otherworldly. A waiting time. Everything stopped – although the world carried on around us – for our family everything stood still.

There were problems with her heart. Big problems. A surgery would be needed and fast. The future was uncertain. Mom and Tess moved into a hospital room which they shared with another family who had a baby with a sick heart. A baby who died.

A friend at church came up to me in the hallway and asked me, “Is your sister going to die?” I don’t think he was being callous, I think he just wanted to understand. We all did. For the first time in my life it hit me: babies do die.  I mean I knew this in a cerebral way – but I had never really had to face this awful reality. Some babies really don’t make it and would my sister be one of them?

Here is the craziest part. As all the horrible reality of her serious health condition came to light – the uneasy feeling started to leave – and another feeling made its way into my heart. A feeling of peace. I still remember how it came.  I was in my bedroom thinking about my baby sister – in the hospital – praying for her, and wondering what would happen. I was putting something away in my closet and I felt the most beautiful peace wash over me. I felt that my grandmother’s spirit was standing next to me and the message that came to my heart was “everything will be fine.”

I am here to say that message was true.

Tess is still with us.

And Tess ROCKS!!

She is a beautiful contradiction.

Of all the kids in our family Tess is, by far, the most social. If you had told me this when she was little I wouldn’t have believed it b/c she was so painfully shy. But now, she has a billion friends. I can’t keep track of all of them. She has an ease with people. I think she doesn’t judge people by what is on the surface. She really sees them for their whole selves and she loves the best in people.  She doesn’t sweat the small stuff. She takes life as it comes and really enjoys it. She is really laid back and yet she is totally responsible. She has FUN. She just knows how to have good clean fun. People are drawn to her.

As a little girl she was the MOST SHY of any of us. She would hide in the closet when company came over. When she got dressed for church and be looking her very cutest she didn’t want ANY attention. “Don’t look at me!!” She would say in complete earnestness. She was incredibly self aware and a bit nervous.

These days I’ve often wondered, “Does Tess ever worry?” I mean, she must. But I don’t think she worries very much. She just goes with the flow. If she has been asked to go to a dance – she is always so busy with other things she doesn’t mind my mom going out, and picking the dress out for her. Talk about NOT sweating the details!!   And yet she feels things very, very deeply. In the few times when I have seen her let her emotions out – it is like a tidal wave of deep, deep feelings. The waters may seem still but under them there is  movement, energy and mystery.

When she lived with us, and was helping me with the girls, I was really impressed by how even tempered she was. There were times when I was under pressure and very uptight. She just rode out all my passionate responses to the difficult situations with kindness and calm.

She enjoys life. She works at making positive changes in her life. She listens to advice and takes it to heart. She is appreciative and kind. She is hard worker.

She is also NUTS. In a good way. She knows how to have fun! And LOTS of it!

We also call her the niece and nephew whisperer. She is so great with the little kids in our fam.

She is such a good sport. She is a great listener. She is a great contributor (although as a kid she somehow always managed to get out of working when we were all cleaning up the house together). Oh, and one legendary thing Tess did along these lines was, once in primary, they were making Christmas coupons – where the kids would write down what they would do to serve and help and then the parents could redeem the coupons as needed. Tess famously wrote in the blank,

“I will help my mom and dad_____________” she filled in the blank by saying “I will help my mom and dad open soda.” Nice! So nice to know that when those soda cans needed opening Tess would be there to help the process along. My mom loved this so much that she left this little coupon taped to the fridge for months.

As a little girl she was VERY forthright. She just said it however she saw it. Sometimes this worked for her and sometimes this worked very much against her. Once someone tooted and as a tiny little girl she said, “Somebody smell bad!” She was right. And it was so funny. We borrow her saying to this very day in our family – when somebody smells bad.

(May I suggest you click on this photo to get a good look at Tess’ expression. It is SO Tess at that age! – somebody smell bad and she ain’t going for whatever it is that Brynn is offering!!)

Tess is very tech-y. She is a whiz when it comes to the technical side of life. Oohh! How she appreciates a good gadget and boy, does she know her way around a computer.

Tess is something of a romantic. She loves the romantic movies – and the cute boys. Despite the fact that she is rather no-nonsense she is still rather girly. The heart that beats within her – that heart that was saved – is full of feminine sweetness.

It is heart full of love for her family and friends.

A heart full of joy and wonder.

A heart that has embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is a heart that I adore!

Happy Birthday, Tess!

How can I ever find the words to express my gratitude to God that your life was spared.

That your heart beats on.

And that we get to enjoy you every day – and even take for granted your light and goodness.

I love you, little sis. Happy, happy birthday to YOU!