Happy Birthday ItyBtyFrog!!!!

Once upon a time, in a land known as high school, there were two maidens that had a chance meeting. One was named Stephanie, the other, Itybtyfrog.

Stephanie and Ity became instant friends. They had so much in common, but enough differences to keep their friendship interesting. Ity was lovely. She had honey colored hair that went down to her waist and beautiful eyes.

More lovely than her outward appearance was who she was on the inside. Ity was all of the things that every young maiden ought to be. She was kind, generous, spiritual, loyal, graceful, funny and intune to those around her.

Through the years, Stephanie and Ity became closer and closer. They shared going to many dances (many that I can't show pictures of because of ex-boyfriends we would rather forget),

the same group of silly girlfriends (we are the ones circled in red),

confidences,

jobs (see that, she is Beauty and me...a rock),

friends, graduation, college, classes, a love of life and of learning, everything but boyfriends...even that came close sometimes. There were secret signals, Hogi Yogi sweat nights,

trips to far off lands like St. George and Vegas,

breaking up with boyfriends (whenever I see that scar on my elbow from roller-blading, it is Ity I remember fondly...not the idiots we were with.),

engagements (aren't they a perfect couple?),

marriages (She was my Maid of Honor and I was her Matron of Honor--married 20 days apart),

homes,

babies (the backs of our kiddos are darling!),

dogs, and now blogs.

Ity was, and still is everything that I want to be. Her life has met some challenges that the rest of us cannot begin to comprehend and she has faced them with a grace and dignity that I envy. She is amazingly creative, a fantastic mother, an excellent homemaker, a lovely wife, a forgiving friend, a spiritual giant and one of the most well-rounded people I have had the chance to meet. Her only flaw is that she doesn't give herself enough credit.

I have been lucky to call Ity my friend for the past fourteen years. She is the friend I have had the longest and a friend that I hope to keep forever.

Today (Friday) she turns thirty. Come out of the lurking closet and Go and visit her blog and wish her well. She deserves it!

Happy Birthday Ity!

You will always be older than me.