Speaking of Inspiration...

Recently, my sister-in-law, Joni, wrote a very nice blog about my active and inspiring lifestyle through pregnancy. What I haven't told her nearly enough is how much SHE inspires me.

So I'm telling her now - and I've decided to go public. :)

There is no one else I know who can:

1. Take a leap of faith by taking over ownership and operation of her family's coffee shop with her husband (my brother Steve) while raising two young kids. The thought of running my own business freaks me out...let alone having kids while doing it!

2. Raise, teach and love on two active and adventurous kids (Macy - 4 years & Zachary - 1.5 years). Macy & Zach are always eager to discover new things -- and Joni is all about making learning fun and exciting (she's got a teaching background). Did I mention she and Macy have written a book about colors?

3. Maintain her identity as a wife, even with kids. She and my brother still go out on date nights.

4. In the midst of working, mothering and being a wife, J still has time to make her family amazing meals that would make Betty Crocker (or Donna Reed!) jealous (sigh...if only I lived closer to Auberry, CA).

5. Speaking of time, she has somehow managed to add a side-business of designing cards for all occasions. She's amazingly talented and creative and I highly recommend her! Our baby announcements will be designed by her, and we can't wait to see what she does (we have yet to fulfill our end of the deal by providing the baby).

6. And a few other "mentionables" (again, where she finds the time for all of this, I do not know): she makes and sells candles at the coffee shop, has hosted and/or led a variety of small groups from teens to moms, takes it upon herself to organize and often host Lloyd-family gatherings (and she's the daughter/sister-in-law!), volunteers with my brother at church, regularly blogs about "Life from the Hilltop", reads for pleasure, scrapbooks, owns and cares for several chickens and 2 dogs (they used to own a pack of llamas, but that's another story), and gives generously to those in need (we have been one of the benefactors of that generosity). And that's just the present! One thing I will forever appreciate about Joni is that she organized and hosted one of my bridal showers AND my bachlorette party for me while she was 7 & 8 months pregnant with Macy. Oh, and she was still teaching 3rd grade at the time.

Now, really, who inspires who? I think the answer is clear...

J, you inspire me. I am so glad you are my sister-in-law...the older sister that I never had growing up. Thanks for modeling to me and so many others what it looks like to be a woman of deep faith, a committed wife, mother, daughter, and friend. I love you!

p.s. And I think YOU ROCK!

p.p.s. Mom and I baked cupcakes for our staff Christmas party the other night...this masterpiece was inspired by you:

mmmmm...yes, they were delicious

Mom and I with our masterpiece (or at least a humble attempt!)