I've known J'Lene all her life, 38 wonderful years of my 39. She's been a tremendous sister and friend for all of it. We shared everything growing up including my first car at college. She did my laundry and I bought her groceries, I think I got the better end of the deal.
She's always been there and I guess that my tears are partly because I'm all the way out here on the east coast and she's still in Utah. Married now, for which I am overjoyed for her. All my extended family is out west but of course I have a wonderful wife and beautiful children that are my family now.
I don't know I guess I just wanted to pay tribute to my sister for a minute. All her love and generosity over the years. A best friend growing up. Someone I could always rely on. She was always so good with all of our kids and I'm so glad that she has 5 now as part of her marriage to Jonathan.
We have so many memories captured in pictures because J'Lene was ever so faithful in taking literally thousands of them.
I remember her always kinda getting short changed on the birthday thing but it's cool that she shares the day we celebrate the Savior's birth. We never made too big of a deal out of our birthdays growing up but they were OUR days and she had to share it and she was always a good sport about it.
We'd get a kick out of the songs that included NOEL in them and would say they were singing about here. I even remember one song that started off "jingling,....jingling...." and we would pretend they were saying J'Lene...J'Lene... because it really sounded just like it. On an old record player no less. Wow have we come a long way since she and I were kids.
I will always have a special place in my hear for my very own Noel, as with all of my siblings. Today is yours though sister. I love you.
