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happy birthday, sissy

sweet, smart, sassy, savvy sissy mine has a birthday today. 

 she's been around for 30 years now. 

goodness, am i thankful to have been a part of life with her, the life that emanates through her, for almost 22 of those. 


for a good, long 18 years she was the big sister i admired from afar. there's always been a lot for which to admire her... she's kinda got her stuff together. like being a super athlete. being really pretty. having lots of friends. a cute wardrobe. cool braces at one point in time. plus, you kinda have to listen to her when you're 7 and she sits on you babysits you.  

 she became a real saint in my eyes when she became a nephew-giver. 

i can't stop praising Jesus, though, that i have gotten the chance to know her most recently as a friend. moving to texas & nearer to her has allowed us to share more than holidays... we share stories, struggles, laughs, cries, meals, silly movie and wine nights, wisdom, correction, and whole lot more laughs. 

**you're old & have 2 kids... you don't get to have a say in much anymore, the inclusion of this is no exception.
i think you look pretty adorable, though**

lately i have been going through the book of esther with a couple girls in an intimate little bible study. the Holy Spirit has faithfully shown up and shown us what good He has for us. and here He appears again, to call to mind the connections between this girl of grace and courage who prevented the bloodshed of the Lord's chosen people, allowing for the generations-later-birth of our Savior; and the girl whose blood matches mine, who inhabited the same home, the same name, the same pocket of life and growth inside our mama...

... with a beauty and intrigue that is instantly appealing [chapter 2, verses 7, 9]
... with discretion and humility in the words she shares [2:10]
... with an eye for what is beautiful, true, and seeking the purest good 
for herself and others [2:15] 
... with compassion and the best intentions for those she loves [4:4]
... with a steadfast confidence in the gifts she has been given, quick to be bold and act
upon what she knows to be true [4:14-16]
... with intention and thoughtfulness and wisdom in how she goes about things [chapter 5]
... with discernment of that which and those who are not of the Lord and 
His goodness [7:6]
... with a knack for leadership and the trust of both those leading and 
 those following her [8:1-2, 8]

and i certainly cannot neglect:
... with a desire and ability to surround herself by quality and beauty and truth and 
everything fabulous and pretty [the whole stinkin book] 

sissy, i am so thankful for all you are, all you do, and the three men of God you have ushered into our family. happy birthday. i can't wait to celebrate with you. 



p.s. as much as i love having images of those two little monkeys of yours, it makes me sad that i don't turn the lens more to you, pretty sissy. 

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