Happy Birthday Nana!

From the title, you might think this birthday post is for a special grandma, but it isn't. It is for my littlest sister, Angela! My kids used to call her A-na-na and somehow it got shortened to Nana. By the time we realized we were saying a common name for grandmothers, it had already stuck.

{her birthday last year, dinner up American Fork Canyon}

Angela turns 25 today! At Sunday dinner she said, as if she were near death, "I'll be a quarter of a century!" I remember saying the same thing on my 25th birthday! Luckily, a quarter of a century is still quite young and she has lots of birthdays still to come! But today IS special- it is her golden birthday (the year she is turning matches the date of her birth- 25) and I hope her day is GREAT!

In celebration of Angela's 25th birthday, here are 25 things I love about her:

1. She serves happily.

{in between her responsibilities for helping with a charity concert
to raise money for Kids On The Move}

2. She is smart- I envy how quickly and fully she understands things.

{graduation from BYU, Aug. 2007}

3. She is funny.
4. She laughs when I try to be funny. (And sometimes when I don't mean to be.)
5. She loves games, but I love even more that she found cooperative games so I would play with her.

{playing Better Luck Next Time on my back patio, Aug. 2009}

6. Her sweet tooth is as big as mine.
7. She is up for just about any adventure- ask her about skydiving!
8. She is always fun to be around.

{playing with Valerie in Mazatlan, Nov. 2007}

9. She just bought a motorcycle and is so cool when she rides it.

{her first spontaneous lesson with David, Aug. 2009}

10. Her testimony is strong and beautiful and I have seen it's power touch my children.

{Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, Aug. 2009}

11. My children have always had her as part of their life and she continues to be their friend in so many ways.

{swimming with Kate in Kitsap Lake, Aug. 1998}

12. She would wear pajamas all day, every day if she could.
13. Her wardrobe is made up of free work t-shirts.
14. She watches SYTYCD and likes the same dancers as me.

{sporting our Twitch glasses at
So You Think You Can Dance in Concert, Sept. 2008}

15. She genuinely cares about people and takes an interest in their lives, no matter their age or circumstance.

16. She is always there for the the important things.

{Emily's baptism, Aug.2009}

17. She wants a house.
18. She calls me when she needs to pout.
19. She is a good sport.

{dressing up and performing with my girls at
the Leid Children's Museum in Las Vegas, summer 2001}

20. She still comes to my house for Sunday dinner.
21. She ran a 5K with us!!

{Lavendar Days 5K, July 2009}

22. She gives the best hugs and it is the first thing she does when she comes in my door.

{Texas, Jan. 2000}

23. She is not afraid of reptiles.

{showing off her co-workers at the Bean Museum, spring 2006}

24. She has a lot of interests and believes the world is truly fascinating. There is always something to learn or try.
25. She has given me strength, compassion, support and love- always.

{Ethan's birth, Aug. 2004}

To put it simply- Angela is amazing. She is one of the most amazing and wonderful people I know and I am so grateful that she has been a constant in my life; a friend I can count on; the best little sister EVER! My life has been blessed and enriched because she was born this day, 25 years ago. Happy Birthday Angela!!