It's our wonderful life... :o): HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENA!

I've been a bit of a grump this week. I don't want to do anything. I just want to be a grump. And a slob. Staying in my pjs all day would be okay with me if I didn't have to go to work.

And it's all my sister's fault.

Her birthday is today. A milestone birthday. And I'm not there. I don't get to help her celebrate it. I don't get to be there to give her a huge hug, go shopping and take her out for ice cream. I even forgot to put her card in the mail. But it was a dumb one anyway. No card said it just right.

And for a second, I almost didn't make this post. I didn't want anyone to get jealous or upset or think I don't care as much for them. I love my family. All of them. And, I love my sister. I think she is great. I want the world to know it. Plus, it helps me feel a little better.

So if you want to be offended, that's your choice. It's not my intention though.

But I won't hold back on her special day to let at least a small portion of the world know how great I think she is, and how lucky I am to have her as my best friend.

So, in honor of her milestone birthday here goes:

40 Things I love About Dena:

1. She listens.

2. She vents.

3. She knows exactly how I feel and tells me it's okay.

4. She always knows just what to say.

5. She takes on crazy adventures with me.

6. She goes shopping with me and is every bit as cheap as I am.

7. When we go shopping, she picks out the exact same things as me from across the store. Multiple times. Every time.

8. She sends my mom the exact same birthday card I did, without ever knowing it beforehand.

9. She loves my crazy children - she listens when they call, she answers when they facetime, she cares about every dumb milestone or every new thing they learn that I get so excited over!

10. She is an amazing example of what a mom should be like.

11. She reminds me it's okay for the kids to be kids. Let them make a mess!

12. She sends me pins on Pinterest.

13. She will wander through a fabric store with me for hours and not care that we didn't buy one thing.

14. She opens their home to us any time we say "We want to come visit"

15. She makes the 600 mile trip with 3 kiddoes to come see us.

16. She gets excited over little things like I do.

17. She is the greatest piano player I have ever known.

18. She is selfless.

19. She sends random notes in the mail.

20. She loves Dr. Pepper.

21. If she orders before me at a restaurant I can simply say, "Me too!" down to every last detail.

22. We can have five conversations going at once, and still understand exactly what the other is talking about.

23. She gets the stresses of being a mom.

24. She encourages me to keep running.

25. She knows that it's really not 'all good', but there is not any other option - so we keep going.

26. We can train in different states, yet still end up running the same pace during a race.

27. She is always working on bettering herself - which inspires me to do the same.

28. She knows who my friends are and what is going on with them.

29. Nobody makes a better frozen yogurt (or Coldstone) date.

30. We laugh. And laugh. And then laugh some more.

31. We can have the most fun just sitting on the couch together.

32. She lets me be myself.

33. She has an amazing testimony of the gospel.

34. Every moment is a teaching moment.

35. She melts down too.

36. She genuinely cares about people.

37. She forgives me for not sending a birthday card for her BIG birthday!

38. She knows as much as we want to see each other, sometimes a phone call just has to suffice.

39. She supports her husband in everything he does, regardless of what it means for her.

40. She's just fan-freaking-tastic.

She's amazing. I love her more than any list could ever do justice. This list doesn't make up for the fact I can't be there, or that I can't help her celebrate, or that I forgot to send her a birthday card.

But hopefully, just a little, it will brighten her day. Help her know that she is wonderful and amazing. Because she is. And I love her.