t first glance Stephanie is your typical pretty girl. Knows how to look cute, dress cute, even smell cute, but you assume it stops there. Except that under that lovely surface is confidence that keeps her going through all odds, ambition for only the best, and the drive that can actually get it all. Her giggly demeanor is just a guise she hides behind. She is not easily flustered, takes a pragmatic approach to problems, and is always by your side when you need her most.
Although she is younger by five years, in so many ways she has been the one helping me grow up. Over the past couple years I have watched Stephanie transform from the annoying baby sister to a real friend and even equal. Yes, we’ve definitely had our differences, verbal and physical, but in the end she is always there for me. At times, Stephanie is my most important voice of reason and blunt honesty even (or especially) when I don’t want to hear it.
I am just so proud of who she's become. Stephanie is one of the most well rounded people I know. She finished her freshman year of college with amazing grades, elected to offices in multiple student organizations, and is now working at an impressive summer internship. During her down time she hangs out with her many adoring friends with whom she pursues her love of fun, spontaneity, and life. I’m not surprised by how many guys have quickly fallen for her outer charm only to later see that her inner personally matches or even exceeds her outside.
I can’t believe my little sisters turns 19 today. It feels like only yesterday we would dress up and dance to the Aladdin soundtrack when she was four and I was nine.
Stephanie, I know you think that after the eventful birthdays of 18 and 21 life only goes downhill. I want you to remember that that’s not true. If you want it to, Life only gets better. Every birthday brings you “a whole new world.” Or as Aladdin and Jasmine would say:
A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment gets better
=)
Happy Birthday Stephanie!
Sorry sissy, I know you hate this old picture,
but I think it's just so darn cute!
n honor of the song, My Favorite Things, from The Sound of Music (which has been stuck in my head for the past couple days), I want to write about a few of my own favorite things.
But first, a little on how picking favorites also happens to be a favorite thing of mine. Whenever I find a new category of things/ types of people/ activities/ anything really, I find myself immediately picking a favorite. I'm scared that this may be a habit I need to get over before I have multiple kids, especially if it translates into picking a favorite offspring. Later on it could cause them some major psychological damage… whoops. Anyways, my natural gravitation towards favorites fits well my other obsessive tendencies. I feel strongly about what I like, I usually either hate or love things (rarely for logical reasons), but these strong inclinations are never set in stone. My feelings change often, so in the end there should be no hurt feelings, right?
Accordingly, here are a few of my favorite things… of the moment.
Walking
This is something fairly new, and honestly I am not sure how much of it is leftover from my days of trying to lose weight. I would count every calorie consumed and subtract that by the estimated calories burned throughout the day. (Of course, I chose the nerdiest way to lose weight.) But no matter the root, now I truly love walking. I even like choosing the slightly farther parking spot just to walk more.
I love walking my dog even after he is so worn out and panting that he takes every opportunity he gets to lay down in the shade of every tree we pass by.
I love walking and just appreciating that I have the physical ability to do so. That it’s not difficult for me to walk because of old age or some injury. I love the feeling of movement. But sometimes I love taking walks because it gives me the opportunity to do my next favorite thing…
Looking up at the Clouds
When people actually take the time lift their eyes towards the sky, I don’t think anyone is really ever disappointed. At least, whenever I look up I am never disappointed. I always think the same thing, “Why don’t I do this more often?” I love love love the sky. Yes, trees are pretty, flowers are nice, oceans are relaxing, but the sky is nice from everywhere. You don’t have to travel anywhere to find it. Pretty from any angle, any distance. Plus, it spends more time looking amazing than flowers are even in bloom. Looking up at the pretty in the sky always helps me remember how petty problems can be down below. That’s what I love most about the sky, how it can be such a nice pick me up from above.
Healthy, Loving Relationships
I know everyone probably likes healthy, loving relationships, but I REALLY like healthy, loving relationships. I never was that impressed or excited about the idea of young love. Too fleeting, meaningless, shallow even? My favorite is seeing much older couples out in public holding hands, who still seem very much in love. That never gets old to me. ;)
Maybe that’s why I love the Obamas so much. Barack is such a contrast to so many other American presidents in respect to how his personal life appears. He seems to really truly love AND still be in love with Michelle. They make time in their crazy hectic White House schedules to have private date nights. There are pictures of them with his Secret Service men looking away as the two of them share an intimate moment where they rest their foreheads against each other. They just seem like such an indestructible partnership, supporting each other through it all. If that’s not actually the reality of their relationship, then I guess I’m impressed with the show? Either way they inspire me to never settle for anything less than the true love they seem to share with each other.
Last (but probably least important), since we started with The Sound of Music, it's only appropriate to end with my favorite song from that musical, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”
And wow, I just listened to it again for the first time since my childhood, and wow. I guess from now on I will just focus on the dancing and love in their eyes, and ignore pretty much all of the lyrics.
I need someone
Older and wiser
Telling me what to do
You are 17 going on 18
I'll depend on you
I don’t even know where to start with that. Definitely not my favorite anything…
t first glance Stephanie is your typical pretty girl. Knows how to look cute, dress cute, even smell cute, but you assume it stops there. Except that under that lovely surface is confidence that keeps her going through all odds, ambition for only the best, and the drive that can actually get it all. Her giggly demeanor is just a guise she hides behind. She is not easily flustered, takes a pragmatic approach to problems, and is always by your side when you need her most.
I can’t believe my little sisters turns 19 today. It feels like only yesterday we would dress up and dance to the Aladdin soundtrack when she was four and I was nine. 
n honor of the song, 
