Happy Birthday, Joslyn!

Today is Joslyn’s birthday - her special day. A lot things make birthdays special - presents, cake, parties, etc. - but most important to me today is the person. So let me tell you how Joslyn makes this day special for me.

• Joslyn is really smart. She double majored in sociology and psychology. She knows the scriptures really well and can quote many scriptures in all the standard works. She learned to speak German after her mission. She really understands people and how to relate to them. She has a lot of wit, which I don’t have. She frequently has to tell me: “Babe, that’s a joke,” before I finally grasp the wittiness of it. She is such a joy to talk to because she is well-read and brings insights that I have never thought of before.
• Joslyn has a very strong spirit. She really understands how the spirit speaks to her and listens. She has been criticized many times for choices she has made based on the impressions of spirit and can’t fully explain to others. Regardless of those criticisms, she has remained resolute in heeding the promptings of the spirit.
• Joslyn is strong. I came to a full understanding of this when went to my family reunion. Just 4 months after breaking her leg, she was water-skiing. The boat that was being used was sort of goofy (it was basically a raft with an propeller attached to it) and really hard to climb into. My uncle said that he had only seen two people able to pull themselves into the boat. I forget who the first was, but the second was Joslyn (he said that to me as I was being helped into the boat). This past year, Joslyn has displayed that strength by carrying two kids and handfuls of groceries up three flights of stairs, giving birth, running and holding Vienna until her arms are about to fall off (what a little snuggle bug).
• Joslyn is selfless. She is going on 2 years of disturbed sleep, dirty diapers, and crying babies. Despite all this, her love for her two girls is so evident in the way she interacts with them. For the time being, she has sacrificed an undoubtedly successful career for sake of her daughters and her husband. I’m grateful that I can study and work towards my degree with an assurance that my girls are in the best of care.
• Joslyn is beautiful. I don’t know how to do this without getting all sappy. So if you want to spare yourself the puke fest, just skip this one. Joslyn doesn’t have to do much to look stunning. Her eyes are so vibrant. I love how they take on a different color depending on the color of her clothing. Her smile is warm and flawless despite taking a blow to her front teeth from my elbow (whoops!). I’ll stop there before I make myself puke.

I love you, Joslyn. Happy Birthday.