Happy Birthday, Carlyn!

On her 25^th birthday, I thought I’d share 25 things about my sister, Carlyn.

· Her name is Carlyn, which is pretty unique. So is she.

· Someone was named after her. A girl in her kindergarten class’s mom named her other daughter after Carlyn.

· She is totally the middle child – center of attention and peace-maker/seeker in the house.

· We’re 20 months apart. When we were younger (and our mom dressed us alike), people thought we were twins. Sometimes they still do.

· She once saved a child’s life…when she was about 5. A friend’s little sister slipped in the pool and since none of the adults saw it right away, Carlyn jumped in and pushed her out. Pretty impressive, I know.

· She is really good with money. Since I know how “great” she was with money in high school, I know that’s amazing. Dave Ramsey should be proud.

· She is super smart. She didn’t always give a great effort in high school, and she’ll tell you that, but since she was about 19 she has studied/read about/learned all kinds of things including banking, money, real estate, raising kids, marriage, and the Bible.

· She once met Donovan McNabb (at Michael and Marcus Vick’s house)…and didn’t know who he was. (Her defense is that he wasn’t on the Campbell’s soup commercials, yet.)

· She paid her college roommate to let her use the bottom of her closet for her shoes because they wouldn’t all fit in her own closet.

· She is a really good dancer.

· She is great with kids of all ages, which helps a lot in her marriage.

· One time at a homecoming assembly in high school, she stood up on the bleachers and started dancing, and eventually everyone in the gym was chanting, “Go Carlyn, go Carlyn.”

· She once tried to make cookies, but they turned out a soupy, boiling mess. When my mom asked her what went wrong, she said, “I don’t know. I guess it’s because I used diet soda (instead of regular soda).”

· Her sports motto is, “If you can’t be an athlete, be an athletic supporter.”

· She was invited to be in Who’s Who of American High School Student Athletes. We’re not really sure how.

· She got married over a year ago, and it’s still kinda weird to me.

· Before they started dating, she wanted to set me up with the guy that she’s now married to. I was living in China at the time, so I didn’t end up meeting him until they were engaged.

· She has incredible fashion sense (or so I’m told). In high school, she would frequently forbid me from leaving the house until I changed clothes.

· She’s a great wife.

· When I was in China, she gave up her Christmas and New years to come visit me, and even hiked up a mountain to stay in a village and build a greenhouse.

· She’s going to be an awesome mom.

· Though we haven’t always seen eye to eye on everything, she’s an amazing sister.

· She started talking late because when we were younger, I knew what she wanted before she could figure out how to say it, so I’d just tell our parents what she was trying to say. She’s more than made up for that late start since then.

· She’s really good at talking.

· She loves the Lord and loves people.

That gives you a little glimpse into my sister, though it doesn’t come close to telling you everything she’s about. I hope if you haven’t met her, you get the chance to. It will probably help you understand me a little better, too.

I think the thing I love most about my sister is how much she has grown in Christ over the past several years. It has been totally amazing and humbling to see her draw close to the Lord and let Him teach her. I love the conversations we are now able to have because of where the Lord has brought us and how His Spirit has worked in our lives. She seeks God in all that she does and the advice she gives me is Biblical and inspired. I don’t always want to hear it, but I’m so thankful that God is using my little sister to sharpen me.

I’m so proud of the person you’ve become over the last 25 years, Carlyn. Happy Birthday! I love you!