Happy Birthday Tara!

When I was turning 19, two days before actually, my mom and dad gave me and my family a wonderful gift. Her name is Tara. We had a bonus baby come into our family, and life has never been the same. She is quiet and still amongst chaos, she is music and laughter and love.

When Tara was born, my mom was in her 40's and so when we would go places, often people assumed she was mine. And I would proudly say, nope - she's my baby sister. For the 14 months to follow before my wedding, she was my little companion. I often took her wherever I was going, and had alot of fun doing it. I loved buying her clothes and toys, and taking pictures of her.

At 14 months, she was my flower girl in my wedding. I took her with me to the florist to do some final selections, and the florist said "oh, she is way too young to be a flower girl, don't you have someone older?" But as baby Tara walked up to a bucket of flowers on the floor, and breathed in deeply, and said, "mmmmm, pretty" the florist had to take a shocked look off her face, and reply "oh, she can be a flower girl any time she wants!"

Tara has spent most of her adult life as a nanny. Helping to raise beautiful children of other families. Those families know how they have been blessed to have her sweet and quiet ways, her fabulous sense of humor and her spirit and love influence their childrens lives, and help them become who they are today.

She is a favorite of everyone in the family...of course she is! She always puts a smile on my face!

Being in our musical family, Tara surpassed us all in her gifts and talents. She is a singer and dancer extraordinaire, choreographer by profession, accomplished pianist, and actress. Her smile lights up any stage that she graces, and her voice like an angel, clear and bright has amazed, and delighted both family and audiences everywhere.

Today is her birthday! Happy birthday baby sister. You are amazing. Your love and gifts stretch out so far. We are all beneficiaries of you - You are a gift from Heaven, and life would not have ever been the same without you in it!