Day 16: A phone call

My sweet, tenderhearted sister turned 32 yesterday! My gift for the day was a phone call to wish her a happy birthday and just catch up with her. I think she really appreciated the phone call...she and her 17-month-old have colds, and as she is pregnant and due again January 7, she can't take any medication for it. She had managed to have a wonderful birthday, anyway, and we got to talk about how exciting Christmas will be. I haven't spent a Christmas with her in probably 9 or 10 years, so this will be a year to remember.

I told her we would go shopping for her birthday gift when I got to Vegas, and she tried to convince me that me making some of mom's beef stew would be gift enough, but I told her to think of something completely and utterly frivolous and we'd go buy it when I got there. In the last 4 years, she's gone from being single to having a husband, two teenage stepdaughters, a baby girl, and soon-to-be newborn baby boy. Going from a family of 1 to a family of 6 that quickly has required a lot of sacrifice on her part and she rarely buys things for herself...when she does, they're almost always from the thrift store. There's nothing wrong with that and it's a great way to reduce waste, but I always try to get her some clothes, jewelry, or shoes for her birthday that she would never have bought for herself. Every gal needs something brand new now and again. :) I am amazed at what a wonderful mother and wife she is. She sets a loving, patient example for me and I am so proud of her!!!