Sweet Sixteen...

Today, my little sister turns 16! I really can't believe that she's that old---I feel like I'm still 16! Jen's middle name is Joy and I think it's appropriate. She brings joy to my life. I remember the day she was born. I was at my grandma's house and was supposed to be asleep, but I woke up and heard my grandma on the phone. When she got off she came in and told me that I had a little sister and I was soooo excited!

I have definitely not been the best big sister to her...so often I would push her to be how I thought she should be---like me. But God has shown me over the years that He made her to be herself and put her in my life to challenge me and to help me grow. We are opposites in many ways, yet because she is good at what I'm not and she is strong in ways I am weak, she is just what I need!

It seems like just yesterday that she was the teeny-tiniest little girl with a head full of blond ringlets. (Until my mom finally let her chop them off into her little bowl cut style that she sported for years!) I can still picture her wearing her mis-matched outfits, singing Shirley Temple songs, herding the chickens in her cowboy hat, saying she wanted to be a rodeo clown when she grew up, and running around trying to do everything Dustin and I did. (And succeeding--this is the girl who walked at 9 months, roller-bladed at 1 year, and rode her bike without training wheels at about 3!)

Jen has always worked hard and pushed herself to get where she wanted to be...whether it was in school or sports or whatever. She is an incredible athlete who excels at any sport she tries--and she's pretty much tried them all, except for football--though she begged my dad for years to let her play. I can't even remember everything she did last year---volleyball, soccer, basketball, I think she tried the shot-put...to name a few. She's a machine!

But she does have her girly side. She doesn't mind getting dirty and smelly, but when she cleans up, she's a hottie! Once and awhile, when she's in the mood she likes me to do her hair and makeup and do photoshoots...I personally believe if the whole sports thing doesn't work out, she could be a model! (Actually I'm glad she didn't dress up like this when she was younger or she might have stolen boys away from me! ;-) And another little-known fact about Jenny is that she is the best dancer I know...she tears up the dance floor and can do moves we all can only dream of!

Another thing I love about Jen is the fact that she is so content with the person God made her to be. I'm someone who has always struggled with the fear of man...wanting to say the right thing to make people think well of me, etc. Jen really isn't overly worried about impressing others...she is who she is and doesn't try to change just for the sake of worldly approval. She is secure who she is in Christ. And yet, everywhere she goes, she makes friends. She has more friends that anyone I know! I think people see how genuine she is and love her for it. They know with her, they're getting the real thing---a person who knows what they believe and isn't afraid to stand up for it, a person who cares deeply about people and will always be there for their friend and a person who loves to laugh and have fun! I want to be more like her! For her so-called "tough" exterior, she has the most tender heart and loves very deeply.

I know God has great plans for her and I'm excited to see what they are. She is hoping to get an athletic scholarship and wants to go to school to become a personal trainer. (She's already practicing her training skills on Tyler right now...which mainly consists of her yelling at him alot when he eats dessert and taking him running. He's not the most willing "client.") For now though, she's just excited to get her license in a couple weeks and drive around bumpin' music with the subwoofer we installed in her car for her birthday!