For Quiddie

Grace turns 22 today everybody! In honor of that, I've dedicated this blog post to all things Quiddie.

Q. Quid.

This has been my nickname for Grace since she was in Middle School. We bonded over a Harry Potter board game and if you know HP, then you know that the game they play is called, "Quidditch." So I started calling her Quidditch, which then was shortened to Quiddie, and finally to Quid. Sometimes it even goes to just "Q" depending on my mood :). If I've given you a nickname it's because I hold you dear. I don't call anyone in my inner circle by their actual name-I think it's special when just you have a name to call someone. Right Quid? 

Quid goes to camp, circa 1999

U. Understated.

When Grace first came to America back when she was seven years old, she was a mute. The first time I remember meeting her she hid behind her Mom and barely uttered a "hi" and only because her Mom made her. Nowadays things have changed and although people on the outside might think she is still quiet, insiders know better. Bring your earplugs people, it can get that loud ;)

Quid rides the Shotgun Bouncer, 2009

I. Intelligent.

Grace has a mind like no other-her memory is one of the very best around. She is especially adept at memorizing numbers of any kind. For example-the girl knows my driver's license #, my SSN, the plates on my car and every address I've lived at in the past decade or so. The girl is a whiz I tell you-it's scary sometimes. If I ever am fuzzy on a detail of something we've done, she always knows. She also is super observant and knows far more about the people in her world (and even some who aren't) than you would even guess she does. Tricky, that one.

 Quid in her High School Senior Portrait, 2008

D. Dark.

I think this one goes without saying, but the girl has melatone up the wazoo! We are always joking that I want some of her skin color, and she can have some of my paleness. For my wedding, J, Dawn and I had to get spray tans because we all know that the darker you are, the slimmer and more pretty you are ;). Grace, on the other hand, didn't need to fork over the $$ and stand buck naked in front of a spraying stranger because she already had the color, thank you very much!

 The closest we've ever been in skin color-and this is after I had four layers of spray tan applied!, 2011

D. Dude.

I mean this in a lot of ways. Don't get me wrong here-Grace is a gal through and through-she just happens to have some "dude-esque" qualitites in her. Nothing wrong with that right? ;) First of all, she loves basketball, more particularily the NBA and the Lakers. She knows more stats than probably my cousin No and he's a stat King. (He'd probably dispute this claim but whatevs ;) If I ever am on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and I need a lifeline for a sports question, I'm calling Grace, no doubt. Secondly, the girl can burp like no other. We're known for earthquakes here in California, and shake the walls she can! It's pretty amazing actually. We're working on getting that out of her system in front of cute boys so we'll see if this continues. ;) Thirdly, she says the word "dude" a lot. Which is originally where this "D. Dude" came from. If she hasn't said "dude!" or called you "DUDE" then you haven't talked to Grace like ever.

Walking down the aisle at our wedding in October

Doesn't she look stunning? No dude here! :)

I. Insider.

For me, there are very few people that are inside my inner circle. I'm just private that way. Grace is one of my "insider" people. Somehow, she went from that mute 7 year-old to one of my greatest friends as a 22 year-old. She is my little little sister and I love her greatly. You know she's close when she celebrates every Christmas at my house! (That's right-don't you dare break the tradition! Grrrr)

Our annual Christmas at Starbucks drinks, 2010

 Helping me go over my vows before the ceremony, Oct. 2011

E. Every person's friend.

Grace has a lot of friends. She doesn't think so, but she really does. I think it's because she is loyal, keeps secrets like no other (she's a vault), and she's not critical or mean. Basically, she's the anti-girl in this department and I mean that as a compliment. Girls can be harsh, Grace just isn't. I know that her being a bridesmaid in my wedding is only the beginning to her standing up for a lot of her friends in their future weddings. (sorry Quid :)-I'll make sure you look good though!) She's as good a friend as they come, and if you don't have one like her, then her # is...haha, just kidding. She's all mine people! :D

These two are "best friends" and they love bantering with eachother like brother and sister. Blane even took Grace engagement ring shopping before he proposed and they tried on diamonds together. Haha. They are funny and I know they both love eachother even though I don't think they've ever said it to one another ;)

Quiddie, you are beautiful, through and through. My prayer for you today is that you feel loved, celebrated and recognized for the incredible person that God has made you to be. I look forward to seeing what journey God will take you on in this next year of life~for the many challenges, but also for the many victories and joys that He is going to bring to you. Trust in Him and you will never fail. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I love you!

4Life,

Aim :)