Showing posts with label Erin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Erin. Show all posts
Happy Birthday to my darling sister, Erin. She's pretty much the coolest girl you'll ever meet.
Erin, I hope you have the best day and keep listening to that musical card I sent you! I love you!
us, circa 1990
One of my favorite personal blog posts is the one entitled "Things to be Happy About." I wrote this post right after I graduated college, was living at home, just got my LSAT scores back and was trying to figure out my life. I was apprehensive about where my life was going, whether or not law school was a good choice for me, and basically just reconsidering a lot of things. I stumbled upon a website and it talks about everything you're happy about. It was a pick me up when I didn't even know I needed one. And it made me appreciate the every day things that I so often take for granted. So, here I am, 2 weeks away from starting my third year in law school. For the last two years, my life has been figured out. Law school, law school, law school. Now, starting this year, I have to re-figure parts of my life out. Where is life after law school? What kind of law? I'm going to be 26 when I graduate, where does that leave me? Where am I going to get a job? All those questions can really bog you down, so I think it's important to go back to the things that make me happy. So, here it is, my list of everything I'm happy about.
50 things..... in no particular order.
1. Law School: Even though I hate it at times, I love it all the same.
2. My mom & dad. They just celebrated 40 years together and are the best example of true love.
3. My brother & my sister, Camila. They just celebrated 3 months married. They are another great example of true love.
4. Erin. My heart. My sister.
5. Adam. My one true (human) love.
6. Henry My one true (animal) love.
7. Coti & Whitney. My best friends, my security, my persons.
8. Britt, Lynds and Lys. My law school life savers, wine drinkers, bachelor watchers and study buddies.
9. My apartment. The first place I lived alone and really made home.
10. My job. Even though its the hardest job I've ever had, its the most rewarding.
11. My iPhone. I know, that's cray, but I really love it.
12. Summer reading.
13. The Olympics. Besides the fact that I love the National Anthem more than anything, there's Ryan Lockte. Need I say more?
14. My steamer. I just got it. It's way better than an iron, and I love it.
15. My God. Forgiving, loving, strong, adoring, faithful and always there.
16. Friday-nights watching TV with Adam. Best part of my week.
17. Wine. Red wine, white wine, I don't discriminate.
18. Arizona, my home.
19. Carrie Underwood's Blown Away album. She speaks to me.
20. Henry kisses.
21. A good pair of flats.
22. Watching Adam cook.
23. Double dinner dates.
24. The Denver Broncos.
25. The strength of the human heart.
26. Blogging on a Friday afternoon.
27. My personal "K" coffee mug. (see photo below)
28. The paintings my mom paints for my apartment.
29. My dad's emails.
30. This lyric from Ho Hey by the Lumineers, "I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart."
31. My brother's sarcasm.
32. Erin's hugs.
33. Netflix.
34. My family in Omaha.
35. Free speech.
36. The smell of my dad's cigars.
37. My middle name, Grace. For everything she was and for everything it stands for.
38. The wonderful memories of my grandpa, Horst. RIP.
39. Long walks with Henry.
40. Being in love with my best friend.
41. My kindle.
42. Watching Boy Meets World in the morning and Friends at night.
43. Skype.
44. My new sisters, Nati and Juli.
45. Picking out a great nail polish.
46. Running.
47. Birthdays. Anyones, not just mine. Even though I do love mine.
48. Sundays. God's day. Fun day.
49. Weddings.
50. Knowing that with hard work we're all going to be okay.
Surprise #51. This quote my dad sent me in one of his infamous (#29) emails. "As sure as God allows His children to be put into the furnace of struggles, setbacks and disappointments He also promises to be there to help them through and come out with a whole new outlooks on life." -Charles Sprugeon
Happy Friday Friends, I hope you have lots to be happy about!
It's my big sisters birthday today, Happy Birthday Erin! I'll be home soon to celebrate :)
My big sis, Erin.
My mom's "Happy Birthday Erin" painting!
This is post number 600. Can you believe it? This blog has now been going since August 2008, and this is the 600th post. I've been waiting to create a 600th post because I wanted it to be something that meant something. I wanted it to be something that people read and we're inspired by, words that changed people, words that meant something. But, I went back to my first blog, the reason for this blog, and I realized that this blog started for me. So I decided I was going to write this blog for me. So, this blog is about the people, in my life, who inspire this blog, who inspire me, and who mean the world to me. [This is dedicated to the one(s) I love.]
This is dedicated to my all over-extended-non-traditional family. Living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Omaha, Nebraska, Malibu, California, Boston, Massachusetts, & Florence, Italy, I've learned the real definition of a family. It's the people in your life, who regardless of blood line are your everything. It's not necessarily those to whom you are blood-related. It's the ones who make you feel comfortable and loved regardless of where you are. In Arizona, my family is obviously my beautiful and wonderful mom, dad, erin & tom. But not only that. It's Coti and Whitney (even though she's in Utah), it's the entire Urtubey family who will soon be my [non-blood legal] family. It's Brooke&Kelcy who I worked with at Oregano's who still amaze me. In Georiga, it's Lauren. In California, it's Callie, Kate&Kate, in Colorado, its Car-bomb. In Omaha, it's Kristin, Lyndsey, Britt, Alyssa & Adam (& his fam). I've been more than blessed to have extended family all over. They are the ones who will be forever joined with me. They are the ones I turn too when I really need help, someone to listen, someone to care. These are the people that will forever be in my heart. They are the ones I laugh with till I cry, the ones I drink copious amounts of wine with. These people (above) have the hearts of angels, and will always be my guardian angels. They have forever changed me, and molded me into who I am today. Without these people I wouldn't be who, where or what I am today. I am everybit of who they all are. They have made me courageous, strong-willed & motivated. They have shown me what true love means; that regardless of mistakes & faults, that their love will never falter. They have never given up on me, and I know they never will. These people are the greatest people you will ever have the privilege of knowing.
Family is God's daily gift to us, and the easiest thing to do is take that for granted. But one thing I will work daily at, is making sure I never take them for granted. So, this is to my 'family,' thank you for being exactly who you are. Thank you for being in my life, I only hope I can be as much as a blessing to you, as you are to me.
While I'm far away from you,
This is dedicated to my all over-extended-non-traditional family. Living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Omaha, Nebraska, Malibu, California, Boston, Massachusetts, & Florence, Italy, I've learned the real definition of a family. It's the people in your life, who regardless of blood line are your everything. It's not necessarily those to whom you are blood-related. It's the ones who make you feel comfortable and loved regardless of where you are. In Arizona, my family is obviously my beautiful and wonderful mom, dad, erin & tom. But not only that. It's Coti and Whitney (even though she's in Utah), it's the entire Urtubey family who will soon be my [non-blood legal] family. It's Brooke&Kelcy who I worked with at Oregano's who still amaze me. In Georiga, it's Lauren. In California, it's Callie, Kate&Kate, in Colorado, its Car-bomb. In Omaha, it's Kristin, Lyndsey, Britt, Alyssa & Adam (& his fam). I've been more than blessed to have extended family all over. They are the ones who will be forever joined with me. They are the ones I turn too when I really need help, someone to listen, someone to care. These are the people that will forever be in my heart. They are the ones I laugh with till I cry, the ones I drink copious amounts of wine with. These people (above) have the hearts of angels, and will always be my guardian angels. They have forever changed me, and molded me into who I am today. Without these people I wouldn't be who, where or what I am today. I am everybit of who they all are. They have made me courageous, strong-willed & motivated. They have shown me what true love means; that regardless of mistakes & faults, that their love will never falter. They have never given up on me, and I know they never will. These people are the greatest people you will ever have the privilege of knowing.
Family is God's daily gift to us, and the easiest thing to do is take that for granted. But one thing I will work daily at, is making sure I never take them for granted. So, this is to my 'family,' thank you for being exactly who you are. Thank you for being in my life, I only hope I can be as much as a blessing to you, as you are to me.
While I'm far away from you,
I know it's hard for you
Because it's hard for me
And the darkest hour is just before dawn---
"Life" can never be exactly like we want it to be.
I could be satisfied knowing you love me.
But there's one thing I want you to do especially for me---
And it's something that everybody needs.
While I'm far away from you
Whisper a little prayer for me,
Because it's hard for me,
And the darkest hour is just before dawn.
Each night before you go to bed,
Whisper a little prayer for me,
And tell all the stars above---
This is dedicated to the one I love.
Because it's hard for me
And the darkest hour is just before dawn---
"Life" can never be exactly like we want it to be.
I could be satisfied knowing you love me.
But there's one thing I want you to do especially for me---
And it's something that everybody needs.
While I'm far away from you
Whisper a little prayer for me,
Because it's hard for me,
And the darkest hour is just before dawn.
Each night before you go to bed,
Whisper a little prayer for me,
And tell all the stars above---
This is dedicated to the one I love.
What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot
Day 5: Compose a letter to someone who has changed your life.
Have you ever met Erin? Erin McKenzie Englert? She's my sister, my older, beautiful, funnier, happier, my wonderful sister Erin. She's 26 years old, red hair, big green eyes and a heart bigger than anyone I've ever know. The only difference is that she has cerebral palsy, which causes her to be a little less communicative than normal. But nonetheless, she's my hero. Needless to say, writing a thank you note was quite the task. I could have chosen my father, who for the last 22 years of my life has done everything in his power to support me and my family, who taught me how to play tennis, taught me how to drive, sent me to college and now law school. A thank you note to him would be an easy task. I could write a thank you note to my loving and beautiful mother. I could thank her for being my best friend, my shoulder to always cry on, she's my stable source of advice, my shopping partner, wine buddy, and the best mom ever, she definitely deserves a thank you. Or I could write to my brother, who without knowing is my best friend ever. Even though he doesn't realize it, he gives the best advice. He watches over me, defends me, loves me, and always supports me. My entire family deserves a thank you note. Or a thank you note to my best friends, that regardless of locations, time, fights, school, boys and anything in-between have been there through it all. I have a plethora of people to whom I can and should write notes, but today, I'm writing to my big sister, and even though she'll never read it, I know she feels it and knows how thankful I am for her.
Dear Erin,
Thank you, thank you for being my older sister, my role model and my inspiration. Thank you for constantly having joy, and for sharing that joy with all who meet and know you. Thank you for showing me that regardless of situations and circumstances it is possible to be happy and find the best in everything. Without even knowing you have taught me patience. You have taught me gratitude. You have taught me that it is okay to ask for help. Thank you. You taught me that not everything is based on whats on the outside, though I think you're beautiful, you taught me that its whats in your heart that matters.
After coming back from college and school, or even running errands, you greet everyone with the biggest hello and hug, you taught me to live with wide abandon. Erin, you have shown me that through hardships and trials, that nothing is impossible. You taught me to trust people with everything and love unabashedly. Thank you for being my older sister. Thank you for being the biggest part of my life. Thank you for being you. I love you.
Kristen
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