happy 25th birthday!

happy 25th birthday to the big sister!

today mom and i head up to nyc to visit sister and celebrate 25 years of life with her.

well. mom will celebrate 25 years.

i was only around for 23.

here are 25 reasons why i am so thankful for my one and only sister.

1. because she is incredibly thoughtful. she has life long friends that she intentionally stays in touch with through little letters, phone calls, gifts and get togethers. she truly cares about those close to her heart.

2. because she has an unatural love for our st. benard desmond. she adores him!

3. because she has great big curly red hair. when she passes people they always comment on how much they love it.

4. because she can play the piano incredibly well. and has very unselfishly let me sing along for many many hours.

5. because when we were little, she didnt mind letting me watch her play barbies.

6. because she spent a year overseas on a ship with operation mobilization serving people in africa.

7. because she too believed we could make it in california.

8. because when we laugh together, we usually cry.

9. because during dad's accident she let me come upstairs and just sit with her.

10. because she is so classy. she carries herself with such dignity.

11. because she seeks adventure! she has climbed rooftops, sought out lighting storms, broken through museum barriers, gone rock diving, 4-wheeled it and keeps looking for more.

12. because she makes people feel so welcome when they visit her. wherever that may be.

13. because she takes the most beautiful pictures of our family.

14. because she would much rather take backstage and let others have the credit.

15. because when she was little, she wrote tons of short stories about her passion for the history of the holocaust.

16. because she loved to climb pine trees and read books. she wasnt afraid to enjoy what she loved.

17. because of her kind cards from nyc.

18. because she loves to give people an ocean of a hug.

19. because she is constantly seeking God. in everything she does, she follows him.

20. because even though she has been unemployed for 5 months, she is still joyful.

21. because she taught me what it means to have hope.

22. because she loved me from the minutes i came home.

23. because she wants to do something BIG in this life. she wants to make a difference.

24. because of the way she can make anyone feel like they have known her forever.

25. because life would not be the same without her.

i am so thankful for you my sister. on every day, but on this day especially.

i love you.