I was taking pictures at my sister Dora’s birthday party on Sunday when my other sister LaVay said, “I sense a blog post coming up.” I responded negatively, which led to a few “pretty please’es” and some well-placed flattery. 🙂

So here’s your post, Vay. . . although it might not be what you expected.

Over the mountain, about two and a half hours from here, there’s a big yellow house on the side of a hill. Pastures and woods and fields sprawl on every side, and when you stand out on the deck in the evening and the machinery is silent and the frogs are beginning to croak, you can almost imagine yourself in another world, an older world, a magical one.

Then a little boy breaks the peace, and you turn to go back inside, and you are reminded that it’s very much a real world, one that involves a lot of work. Summers are especially busy with changing water, harvesting seed, and baling straw, not to mention canning, baking, and endless loads of laundry.

And she helps with all of it.

This isn’t a post about Golden Oaks, beautiful as the farm may be. It’s not about the hard-working man who’s turning an old farm productive again. It’s not about the sweet teenager who loves her cats and little brothers. It’s not about the three boys who are growing up tall and strong and walking in the footsteps of their dad.

It’s about the woman who stands behind them all.

She is loyal. She is strong. She is brave.

She loves God and her family and her many friends.

She works hard. She has to—she’s a wife and mother.

She can drive a tractor as well as anyone, but she’s also an amazing cook and seamstress.

She is creative, whether it's with food, fabric, photos, or wood.

Her doors are always open, and she loves having company (most of the time). 🙂

She is exuberant and outgoing but still knows how to listen.

She loves books and music, and with three organs, a piano, and overflowing bookshelves, her house is filled with both.

She is sensitive, giving, and helpful. She is caring and compassionate.

She’s not perfect, but no matter. None of us are.

She is beautiful, and she is my sister.

Happy birthday, Vay.

And since it wouldn't be a birthday post without an overload of pictures. . . hang onto your hats. 🙂

And then a few pictures from longer ago. . . I unfortunately don't have access to baby pictures at the moment. 🙁

And since I'm her sister, I have to put in a few of us over the years. 🙂 We obviously kind of like to wear matching dresses a lot.

There's a quote that says, "Family made us sisters; life made us friends." And that's so true.

Thanks for being not only a good sister, but a good friend, Vay. Love you. 🙂