Today is my cousin-in-law’s birthday. She is a wonder and I love her. You know what that means don’t ya!? – it mean’s a birthday toast here on old Dawesome!

To begin, Lindsey is very, very smart – I don’t know how she knows ALL that she knows  but it seems like if I have a question about just about anything she knows the answer. She has a great brain. It holds lots of information, information that she can retain. To me this is miraculous because 15 minutes after reading something I pretty much forget it. Added to her very fine brain she is a deeply passionate person. If she is passionate about a given subject she immerses herself in it – lives it, drinks it, breathes it. From there, she masters it and then moves on to the next thing. I often think that if she decided to she could do just about ANYTHING. Her general pattern is to  figure it out, conquer it and basically own it!

She is also very talented. Her talents range far and wide – but the one I often feel most grateful for is her remarkable ability to cook. She is a chef-ess if ever I met one. She can do it all – from foie gras to souffle. But even though she can do fancy, she will still feed her kids mac and cheese. Once my sister Brynn and I were talking about Linds and her cooking skillz. We were generally marveling about her great gift then Brynn said something profound, “I don’t even want to ask Lindsey for her recipe, because I know if I make it, it won’t turn out as well as it would if she made it.” Brynn is right. Lindsey doesn’t just have a sense for food – she’ll often take a recipe and improve it, she’s got magic hands. If she touches it, it turns to gold! It is that special something that is just, God given.

Just look at the work and love she put into the cake she made for Chas and Sam’s wedding. She’d never made a wedding cake EVER, yet she was able to whip up this four tiered wonder!  When true genius and true love comes together it is  the most beautiful combination.

(Plus she made the other two cakes you see pictured!)

Whenever I have a cooking question or am in the middle of experiencing a cooking disaster I call Lindsey. Once I was making pistachio ice cream for a friend and it WAS A TOTAL NIGHTMARE, until I called the “Ice Cream Whisperer” aka Lindsey and she not only talked me off the cliff, she took my sorry excuse for ice cream and turned it into a masterpiece! (Every time I call her and ask for her help I feel kind of cool – like I have a direct line to a cooking genius – I don’t need to watch Rachael Ray cuz I’ve got my Lindsey J, suckaz!!)

Now, I also know that Linds has had moments where things haven’t turned out PERFECTLY – but in general I have to put her right up there with Julia Child. For several years she wrote a very popular blog called Cafe Johnsonia, which had a considerable following. A few months ago she decided to give it up because she felt like it was taking over her life and that she wasn’t able to spend proper time with her kids. Many times I hear this type of conundrum referred to as a “work/life balance” issue. For many successful women bloggers, blogging  is a way to get out of being a mom. But not Linds, when she felt like it was taking too much focus away from her most important priority she cast it right off. Over and done. The end.

This is something else that I really admire and respect about Lindsay. I think at her core she is a deeply spiritual person. I watched her be semi-tortured over her blog and her relationship to it. She was always very prayerful about it and how to proceed. I was amazed when she was able to just give it up and walk away when she realized that it wasn’t the right thing for her to do anymore.

That takes guts.

Lindsay is not only very bright and interesting, she’s also got great taste. Not just in food either! She gets art, and music and home decor etc.

Lindsay is a devoted mother and wife. She is truly devoted to her family.

Not a bad looking crew, if I do say so myself. And speaking of good looking, I think that Lindsey is totally BEAUTIFUL. She has the most beautiful skin – it is milky, flawless and glowing. She has crystal blue eyes a perfect nose (that I actually covet) and rosebud lips.

My mom and I think that she looks like this model.

No doubt if Linds had some of that Le Verns jonx slathered over her eyes and some of that mauve lipstick she could put this chick to shame!

She is also a very talented photographer (see above photos of her progeny as evidence).

She is also very modest. Sometimes I fear maybe too modest – to the point where she has no idea just how wonderful she is and how much she has to offer.

Lindsay is very kind. She is funny and honest. I still remember when she and I went out to lunch when I was in UT last year and she had been reading a book that she felt like she was learning a lot from. I was amazed at her ability to analyze and evaluate her personal efforts to grow and change. It was such a wonderful discussion. She was so honest that it struck me how much of the pain we suffer in relationships comes when we are unable to be honest in love.  I have had many talks like this with her. When we are finished she always inspires me to try harder and be better.  I really appreciate her willingness to be candid and open.

She is also very considerate. When my mom came here to take care of me after Clara was born, Lindsey took care of my dad and siblings who were in UT missing my mom. She took over Sunday dinners, dropped off treats and was all around wonderful. That meant so much to me. Thank you for doing that, Linds!

She also has a little bit of a irreverent streak! She doesn’t bring that one out around me that often, but I know it is there.

She has been through many, many hard things in her young life – but she has held on to the good and consequently she has been and continues to be blessed. Both she and her husband, my cousin Fred, have been through some very challenging experiences. I admire both of them for their commitment to each other, to their kids and to the gospel.

I for one feel very, very blessed not only to know her but to call her a cousin!

Happy Birthday, Linds!

P.S. What cake did you make for your birthday & please tell me it had butter cream frosting!!! Seriously, I hope your day was wonderful because you deserve WONDERFUL!!