Happy Birthday Jules!

Thirty-five MILLION birthday wishes to my cousin Julie today! Julie is my first cousin, mother of our flower girl Sadie. Because she moved to Virginia ten years ago, it has always been easy for me to visit with her while I lived in the DC area and now in Charlottesville. When I am in need of "family time" I always head up to Julie and Steve's since my parents live four hours away.

Julie is a huge reason for my successful recovery. When I was in the hospital in Baltimore, some weekends I would want to drive home to Charlottesville for a day or two. The drive was too long (I didn't get out of the hospital until 8:00 pm), so I would stop at Julie and Steve's, spend the night, and finish the drive the next morning. No matter how bad of a week I had in the hospital, I was always able to talk about it with Julie and know that I was understood. So, on to the wonderful things about the birthday girl!

Just a FEW things I love about Jules

• She is beautiful, always has been. You should see pictures of her as a child, she was the cutest darn thing in the world.
• She is so funny. Must be where her kids get it.
• She is obsessive compulsive about cleaning. Really, this just makes me feel better about myself - but, a reason I love her nonetheless.
  
• She has such a good heart and is such a supportive friend.
  
• She loves her children to the end of the Earth.
• She loves Christopher (a little too much at times...hehe)
• Our personalities are so similar it makes me feel like I'm not alone in my crazy world (again, really just helping me out here!)
• She loves to organize. BEAUTIFUL.
• She loves candy. I love anyone who loves candy.
  
• She is so generous. I can't even list the things that she has done/given/provided for other people in her life - she is the least selfish person in the world.
• She is a fabulous photographer. I'm going to have her take some engagement shots of Christopher and me when the weather gets nicer.
  
• I love her!!

So happy happy happy birthday, Julie. I hope you get everything you ever wanted and more. (And that includes your Ruth's Chris dinner... call and tell me all about it please). We both love you so much!!