Happy Birthday Christel

This weekend I had back to back birthdays to post about. Yesterday was my nephew’s, and today my sister-in-law Christel celebrated her special day. 

I get to see Christel, and my brother Bryan, every year at the family Halloween party. The rest of the year, I keep up with what’s going on in their lives primarily through social media. In spite of what some say about Facebook, I’m grateful for this simple yet effective way to be connected with family and friends. 

I looked up Christel’s name:

“Christel, you are cheerful and friendly and not afraid to feel your emotions. You are an excellent communicator, expressing yourself joyfully and constructively, and you seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient and impulsive. You have the ability to think big and bring your ideas to completion. You are intuitive and creative and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

Dependable, down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, and a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your primary desire is to create a protective and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving your goals and gaining objectives. You are very detail oriented and well-organized. At times you may appear stubborn and overly critical of others, but your  approach to life and your high energy productivity make you a valued member of the community.” 

Beautiful words, that capture well a beautiful, free spirited woman. Christel is successful, in life and in her career, and I would certainly call her an outside of the box thinker. She is athletic, participating with her family in marathons for good causes, which also means she cares and puts actions with her desire to make a difference. 

And she very much does enjoy the arts. I often see posts on social media, and a selfie, as Christel and my brother sit in the audience at Tulsa Performing Arts Center, waiting for a musical or ballet to begin. I love the relationship that my sister-in-law and brother have, the way they parent their children, and the fun that they have together. 

Having fun and engaging life is one of Christel’s greatest strengths. She is enjoying her journey, living life to the fullest, while being very present with herself and others. She’s happy. And those around her are as well. 

Happy birthday, Christel! I love you!