Happy Birthday, Tali Rose!

Dear Tali,

Happy 18th birthday! I love you!

Specifically, I love that...

You're always ready to have a good time.

You find joy and beauty in small things.

You're always willing to look silly next to me.

You put up with me.

You have such a positive outlook on life.

You love children.

You're very creative. :)

You're not afraid to work hard.

You're always there for me, in the trivial and the consequential.

You're not afraid to cry with me.

Your heart beats for some of the same things for which mine beats.

You've shared some great memories and experiences with me.

You're a great page-turner.

You have a passion for vegetables and inspire me to eat more healthfully.

You like to take pictures of me while I brush my teeth in a public bathroom??? (Okay, that's a little weird.)

Moving on...

You make me do things I don't want to do when you know they're good for me.

You're a deep thinker.

But you're also willing to jump right into things without hesitation. (I also love that this was only last year!)

You're compassionate.

You love Jesus with all your heart.

I don't have a picture of that, but I'm pretty sure it's evident to everyone already.

Thank you for being the kind of friend that always points me back to the important things in life. You're far more incredible than a measly blog post can portray.

Most of all, thank you for being Tali Rose. I can't imagine life without you!

**

Learning, living

Hoping, dreaming

Wet eyes running

Or brightly gleaming

**