Oh, How I Love This Girl!

There's one thing I've struggled with as my kids have grown up.  (Actually, there's more than one thing, but I'll just mention one today.)  I hate when we're apart on their birthdays.  There's something that's always just felt so wrong about that to me.  Yes, I'm happy that they're independent and have grown up and gone on to do good things with their lives, but I selfishly want to be with them to celebrate.  After all, we were together when their lives began, and I wish that I could be with them every year on their big day.

So, today is Rachel's 21st birthday, and while I know she is being taken care of by friends and family in Utah--thanks, Hansens, Pendletons, Millers, and Aunt Brenda--, I miss her like crazy.  She is one of the people I most enjoy being around in the whole entire world.  She has an amazing sense of humor and an ability to help me take things less seriously and not be so tightly wound all the time.  I love her laugh.  She is intelligent and capable and will go on to be successful in whatever path her life takes.  She is one of her siblings' best friends and has an especially close relationship with her little bros.  I LOVE to see the four of them together.

I had fun going through my digital photography library this morning and finding a few pix of my sweet second daughter.  I hope she doesn't hate the ones I chose.


Well, hey, Rachel!  What's up?

Thumbs up, baby!

Chillin' out with Little Man.

Big Jud's over Christmas break.

This may be the pose I've seen Rachel in most during school breaks and when
we've visited her in Provo.  She is one hard worker!

These are four of my greatest blessings!

BYU Family 5K 2008

 

Before she was a Cougar, she was a Maverick.

 Happy Birthday, Rachel!!  Your family loves you like crazy, and we hope you have an amazing 21st birthday!