Today is Kelsey's 19th Birthday. I remember that day so well and I kept worrying about Jake and Hillary and how they would react. I wondered what would happen to this little twosome once the new intruder arrived. Needless to say they both melted once she came home and they began their new job of parenting at the young age of 7 and 10. It has been an amazing experience for me to have my two sets of kids. I have taken alot of flack about it but I would choose it again in a heartbeat. There have been relationships that I am not sure could have been built any other way. It is so fun to watch the years shrink and all of them becoming one age in a sense. When I see Hillary and Nicolas dancing in the family room and laughing their heads off and Jake or Nicolas giving Kels a big hug after she has been away for a few weeks at school, I know that somewhere I have done a few things right. How grateful I am for the promptings of the spirit who reminded us that we were not in charge (again) and allowing us the wonderful experience of having Kelsey in our family. I love you Kelsey, Happy Birthday! Here are 19 things about the birthday girl.
1- Talented: Kelsey would not admit it in a million years but she is talented. She has a pretty voice and she would love to be able to sing in public. She has an amazing ability to memorize random stuff (except school work) and can recite all kinds of movie lines in character. Just ask her sometime!
2- Loves her family: Kelsey loves her family more than anything. She has a great admiration for all of them for their different strengths and is totally devoted to her siblings. She would do anything for them.
3- Obedient: Oh man, how many mom's can use that word to describe their teenager? She has never crossed the line with me and she has had many extra perks because of it. She never argued when I told her when to come home, just said ok and did it. It ended up helping her in the end privilege wise.
4- Spiritual: Kelsey has the most amazing testimony and always has. I swear if a person can be born with one, she was. Is that possible? She stays true to her Heavenly Father and to herself and makes others want to be better just by being around her.
5- Good Friend: If you have Kelsey as a friend she always will be. She is loyal to those whom she has chosen to be her good friend and works hard to keep them going the right direction. She never would want to see them fail. I still remember poor Spencer Carlson getting quized all the time about if he passed the sacrament at church or making him recite the priesthood theme. He is a better person for having her as a friend and she helped reach his goal of a mission. She prefers guy friends to girls and has a group of guys that she calls her boys. All are on missions and one is leaving soon! How cool is that.
6- Hard Worker: All through High School Kelsey had two jobs. One summer she would go to work and get home at 12:30 a.m. and get up and be to work at her other job by 5:00 a.m. She juggled two jobs, yearbook editor and school, oh and don't forget that all important social life. There were alot of times that she missed out on things because she had to work, but she had a goal to earn money and go to Utah State and she did it!
7- Ice Cream Queen: Anyone that knows Kelsey knows that ice cream runs through her veins. I believe it came from my Grandpa who was a huge ice cream lover for sure. She loves it so much that she went to work at Coldstone and looked forward to her free ice cream at the end of her shift. Even when she was not at work, she could still be found stopping by for her fix. She knows her ice cream!
8- Fun to be around: There is something about Kelsey that makes you want to be around her. She is fun and witty and loves to have a good time with her friends and family. She makes you want to laugh and leaves a empty spot when she is gone:(
9- Eater of much yummy foods: Ok, so Kelsey can out eat just about any guy on any occasion. Not sure where she puts it and it never show up on her, but she can wolf down a meal! We joked with her a little when she started dating about ordering specialty drinks and not eating more than her date. She does hold the record in our ward for the most scones eaten at one time, 17 I think, and she de-throned a guy. It was awesome! Her dad was there and he said it was his proudest moment. They still talk about in total awe.
10- Pretty: Kelsey is so pretty and those big brown eyes and smile of hers are amazing. She would argue with this one for sure but we all know the truth!
11- Goal Oriented: Kelsey set herself a goal to go to Utah State this last fall. She worked hard as I already mentioned and made it a reality. Now she is there and sometimes I think she gets a little bit lonely and bored, but a goal is a goal and a commitment is a commitment and she is hanging tough. One of my favorite goals of Kelsey was to make it to 16 without being kissed. I kidded her a little, but she made it. Way to go Kels!
12- Wise: Kelsey is 19 going on 30 in the wise department. She has the unique quality of seeing the big picture instead of just the moment. It has served her well especially in her relationships with her guys, (guys only live in the moment) and she has been able to reap the benefits of that. I have told Alan on a few occasions that those things that make him crazy about her are the things that he loves about her. She has great wisdom to know where she wants to end up and won't comprimise that.
13- Leader: I have watched Kelsey blossom as a great leader in school and church. She took on the tasks for three years of leading her peers in Yearbook with finishing up her last year as the editor. It was alot of pressure and responsibility and more than once she picked up the slack for those who didn't quite finish their spreads. At church she took on the responsibility of leading her classes and had alot of extra things put on her plate to do. She made sure it was done and her leaders at church and at school loved her!
14 - Worrier: This started when she was little and it has never quit. I am amazed that she does not have a ulcer or something. She used to be more the "what if" worrier, what if this happens, what if that happens, now it is more worrying about everything even if she can't control it. (She still does the what if worrying too!)
15 - Caring: Kelsey cares about others, especially their feelings. She never wants anyone to feel sad and works hard to cheer people up. Just recently Nic had a particularly bad day at work and then in the same day broke his arm. She worked so hard that day to make sure that he was cheered up and waited up until 3:30 in the morning to give him a hug. She is a nurturer and sensitve to others feelings.
16 - Giving: If Kelsey had something you wanted and you let her know it she would hand it over no questions asked. I think it comes from her Nic mothering days. I think she would make a great wealthy person because she would make it her job to help others have what they need. She does not ask for things and whatever you get her is just fine, no complaints.
17 - Respectful: Kelsey has the ability to win the hearts of her friends parents hands down. If they could adopt her they would. I think that this hopefully stems from being taught that you show respect to everyone, especially the adults you come in contact with. When she is in their homes she is respectful of their things and especially of them. She has always followed the rules I have set for her without complaint.
18 - I asked Alan for one word to describe Kelsey and this was his answer. "I can't choose just one, how about gorgeous:)" Good Answer Al!
19- On this last one I decided to not be specific and list a few random things about her. She is afraid of spiders and the dark, she loves to shop for earings and she would eat out non stop if she could. She likes to read when she can if she has something really good to read, but she reads her scriptures faithfully. Kelsey is a home body and loves it when she gets to come home from school. She loves music and likes to sing at the top of her lungs in the bathroom. Sleeping is her favorite past time and she does it so well. She wants to be a mom when she grows up. Kelsey likes to write poetry and express her feelings through it. She misses all her friends and hanging out at the Bushman's with all of them, holding her own against them in some kind of a game or activity. She writes all those missionary boys as often as she can. She always sends a text to all the priesthood holder friends she has after the priesthood session of conference and has them tell her about their favorite talk. They all expect it. (Helps keep them paying attention) She is not the least interested in cleaning and likes her clothes on the floor so she can find them. (Go figure) She likes to roast Starburst candy over a fire for heavens sakes! She loves hot chocolate and she is a pretty good candy eater. Kelsey likes green olives and lemons in her Christmas stocking.
There you have it, a few not so well know facts about my girl. She is an amazing young women and a great daughter, sister and friend. WE love you Kelsey! Happy Birthday
