Happy Birthday, Sis!

Chase, Jenni, & Gracie, December 2006

Today is my sister Jenni's 35th birthday, and although she's really busy and probably won't even see this until she gets a free minute in a couple years, I wanted to write about her to let you all know a little about this amazing woman. She's been my hero since I was very young. She's ten years older than me, so we never really fought with each other like other sisters do who are closer in age. (Although I'm sure I annoyed her when I was younger, but she was too good a person to let it show.) Though we talk and joke and laugh like other sisters do, it feels to me like she's mostly been a teacher/mentor to me (in a kind way, not an overbearing way). I've learned sooooo much more from her than I could ever write here, and the things she's taught me have been about the most important things in life (e.g. marriage, family, babies, children, the Gospel, etc.). Anyway, I'd like to list just a few of the spectacular things about her here, in no particular order.

1. Even though she became a mother at age 20, she still completed her bachelor's degree. She became pregnant soon after she got married, but since she was so dedicated to her education, she took 23 credits one semester and 24 credits the next so that she could get all her classes in. Can you even imagine? At the time I was only 9, so I had no idea what it meant when my parents talked about how many hours she was taking, but now I just think, "Wow!" She finished all of her coursework the day before she gave birth to my niece, Ashlee! Then she did her student teaching when Ashlee turned 1 and graduated soon thereafter (with a GPA of ~3.75). What a woman! Her example kept me going whenever I wanted to complain about student teaching while I was pregnant, and I'm so grateful to her.

2. She has an incredible gift for music. She plays 5 instruments beautifully and has perfect pitch. She has composed music and written her own arrangements of other music. Two Christmases ago, she wrote music to go with the words to "The Living Christ" and played it over and over again in the car to teach her children the words to it. Then, when we got together for Christmas they recited it for us perfectly. Sometimes I wonder why she hasn't been translated, all the amazing stuff she does. And then I remember that she has to be around to be an example to me. Thank goodness!

Jenni, Paul (our brother), and me

3. She is so humble. She seriously has no idea how wonderful she is. She took me to Enrichment with her while we were visiting last month, and during dinner she told the other ladies at our table about something chaotic that happened at her house, and we were all cracking up. Then one of the other ladies said [and I paraphrase], "I love Enrichment! Now I know she's not perfect!" and Jenni thought she was talking in general about other women. Then she realized the lady was talking about her, and she said, "Oh my gosh! Whatever!" and looked at me and said, "You know what it's really like at my house!" and I said, "Jen, you're not getting any support from me--I still think you're perfect!" I don't know if any of that story made sense in writing, but basically, she's great and doesn't even realize it.

4. She is always there for me. I have taken an immense amount of her time asking her the simplest (and probably the dumbest) questions imaginable, but she has always taken the time to answer them without ever making me feel silly or dumb. She has guided me through teenage-hood, college, roommates, dating, engagement, marriage, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and is still guiding me through being a new mother. She was even there when I gave birth to Gracie! It was such a neat experience, and she really helped Dave and me be more calm and relaxed through it all. She cried happy tears when Gracie was born and has always treated Gracie like she was her own baby.

Jenni & Gracie, Dec. 2006

5. Finally, as if you couldn't already tell, she is one of the best mothers in world. I'm pretty sure that she was born around Mother's Day for a reason. She has wanted to be a mother since she was very young (or so I'm told by my mom), and she has fulfilled and magnified that calling to the utmost. She and her husband have 6 beautiful children, and although their kids might not appreciate all she does for them right now, I know that later on they will be just as amazed by her as I am. When I think of the scripture about children calling their mother "blessed" I almost always think of her. She has sacrificed a great deal for them, but she loves every minute of it.

There's so much more I could tell you about her, but I'm gonna leave it at that. I love her so much and am so grateful to Heavenly Father that I get to be her sister. Happy Birthday, Jenni!