My sister-friend!

Hi Everyone!

I'm hacking into Kelli's blog for two reasons today...First..its her 29th Birthday and Second..because this is her family blog and she is usually writing about the kids and the many activities that family life entails...Its time someone wrote something about her :)

Let me start by telling you a little about our Kelli..

- she is spunky and fun and uncomplicated..she needs very little to make her happy..I love that about her.

- she has an infectious laugh..I can hear it in my mind as I type this..and its making me giggle :)

- she is confident and outgoing and a generally all around nice person..I hope she has rubbed off on me at least a little bit in the last 9 years we have known eachother.

- She is a wife, mom, sister, friend and about a million other things to so many other people..I'm proud to be able to call her a friend and sister..(we aren't related by blood..but that never seemed to matter much to us...Thanks to Kim )

I can remember with clarity the day I first saw Kelli..I can remember what she was wearing right down to her sketchers..and right up to her sparkly eyeshadow...It is a day I will never forget..and it holds a really special place in my heart..for on that day..it was like there was a light over her head and a whisper into my heart said...you need to be friends with her...and I whispered back..ya right I'm sure she has many friends..why would she want me...

I'm happy to say that Heavenly Father has a bigger plan for me...for us..I'm happy that on that day and the days that followed he intervened..for my life has never been the same..and I can honestly say it wouldnt have been even half as good without her...

We often remark on how we lived 20 years without eachother...and sometimes forget that we havent been together forever anyways...There are moments and times in my life that she has been there for me exactly when and how she should be..There are times when unfortunately we havent been as close as we are now..and times when perhaps we have been closer...but all of those times have made us who we are..and brought us to a place where I think we can both say without a doubt that our friendship was meant to be...

We have had classes together, served in church callings together, lived together, and have been together for almost all family and holiday activities in the last 9 years that I have lived in here. I remember our silly adventures as YSA..staying up until 5am watching movies with our friends...having sleepovers in eachothers rooms, even though we lived in the same house together, having Sunday afternoon naps on her futon..and long long talks about things we were mutually passionate about..

And although life has changed quite dramatically for her especially, over the years..she is now married and is a mom to 3 brilliant, beautiful, energetic little ones..we have still remained the best of friends...through fun times..and happy times..through hard times and sad times..I know that nothing can shake the bond that Kelli & I share..I take great comfort in that truth...our friendship is not one of convenience...it is not one made up purely of lighthearted fun...it is a relationship born of inspiration..and one fostered by a sister like connection..She is indeed like a sister to me..and I am perhaps more grateful for that then she may ever know..

So here is to my Kelli...to our Kelli...

Happy Birthday Sister-Friend!

Thank you for touching my life, for sharing yourself and your family with me, for letting me fiercely love those little munchkins of yours, for sharing your beloved mom with me..6 years of being loved by her changed my life..Thank you for continuing to be there for me...for our long talks...for our special moments...thank you a million times over and over..

May this year bring you peace...happiness...and joy...you deserve it.

I love you & I'm looking forward to a lifetime of more memories and moments together!

dev.