It can't really be 40 years...?

Yesterday evening I went to dinner with my niece Cortni and her fiance Brad. That's right, the oldest of the next generation is getting married. I'm not ready for this. I just can't believe that she's already grown up. She's 20. The wedding is just a few days before her 21st birthday. I guess that's not too young to get married (Actually it is. I'm trying to be open-minded), but when it's your niece it suddenly seems much younger than it used to. Maybe because they'll all always be sweet little girls to me.

Dinner was nice. It was fun to be alone with Cort and Brad. When we're at a family get-together, there's noise and commotion, and the kids usually separate themselves from the adults, and so there's not much real conversation with any one person. And Cort was always one of the quieter children. At dinner we could focus. We talked about the wedding and her job and his family. We remembered things from when she was little. It was so good just to talk. I feel like I know her better now, and him too. Funny how you can know a person her whole life, and in one evening learn so much. She is grown up now, and a beautiful young woman. I think they'll do well.

In other news - it's my sister's birthday today. She's 40. That blows my mind even more than Cortni being 20. Most of you know (all three of you who read this) the story of how she came to be a part of my family. I think it's a miracle, and when I thank Heavenly Father for my family, I say a special thanks for her. I remember the first time I saw her. My parents arrived home from the airport with her in the middle of the night, after I was asleep. The next morning I woke up, and there she was, sharing my room. We shared a room our whole childhood. We used to get up at night, go to the kitchen, sneak pickles and take them back to bed with us. Then we'd stay up too late eating pickles and talking. Other nights, if something woke her up and scared her, she'd wake me up and get me scared, and then she'd go back to sleep, leaving me wide awake and very nervous. Nice. We had a grandma who sewed us clothes, usually from the same pattern so we matched. Hers were red, and mine were blue - every time. I was in my 20s before I considered wearing red because that was Marla's color. Now we're older, and no longer wearing matching shirts, but she's still my best friend, and really the best thing that ever happened to me. She's one of the most beautiful women I know - very strong and very good. Happy birthday Marla, I really love you.

Does it seem like every post I've done has included someone's birthday? July is a busy month for us. That's it for a while.