oday is my best friend’s birthday. In so many ways we are opposite (she likes silver; I like gold) and yet in so many ways we are exactly the same.

She waltzed into my life about 5 minutes after I walked in alone to my first Christmas choir rehearsal four and a half years ago. She was infectious and bubbly and someone I immediately felt drawn to. She talked about her dog, Gracie, and for about 2 years, she thought I loved dogs as much as she does because during the first few minutes of meeting, she basically said if I didn’t like dogs, we couldn’t be friends. So, obviously, I suddenly loved dogs. (The reality is that I like the idea of dogs, but am too much of a neat freak to have one myself.)

Sara’s the kind of person who makes friends easily. If she’s in your corner, you’re a lucky person. She’s fiercely loyal. I love that about her.

We’ve shared so much of our life stories with each by now that we often forget that we haven’t actually known each other our whole lives. If I have any secrets, she’s one of the people always included in it. When she found out that she’s pregnant, I held that secret in for weeks even though I was so giddy, I wanted to backflip across the yard. (I can’t even do a backflip!) I’ve already offered extensive babysitting services and we’re pretty sure we’ll one day have a marriage (arranged or not) among our children.

To this girl, happy birthday…even if you still prefer silver over gold.