Happy Birthday, Alison!!!

This week we celebrate Alison's 30th birthday. It is a big milestone birthday, and we had big plans. We had to reschedule those plans due to the coronavirus. Despite this curveball, we pivoted and put together an excellent celebration.

We had a small get together at Kristin and Dan's house. Dan made cheese fondue and I made a spinach artichoke dip. We also bought a chocolate mousse cake from Gourmandise. It was low key, but spending time with some of the people she loves most is exactly what Alison wanted.

In honor of Alison's birthday I wanted to record a few of the things I love about her:

1. Alison is kind. She is loving and giving out of the goodness of their heart. She looks for ways to help others, and often helps anonymously.

2. Alison is intelligent. She spends time reading and learning to enhance her knowledge. When she wants to know something she does her research. She is skeptical. She asks good questions. She is open-minded and willingly admits when she does not have an answer.

3. Alison is passionate. She is always fully invested and does not do anything halfway. Once Alison commits you can always count on her.

4. Alison values hard work. She was raised in a family where working hard is very important. She carries on that tradition.

5. Alison is ambitious. She sets lofty goals and does not settle. I am amazed and proud of her accomplishments in her career, at home, and at school. She fights to get what she wants and as a result has had amazing success in many areas of her life.

6. Alison values education. She graduated with her MBA in 2017. She was willing to make sacrifices to obtain her education and those sacrifices have paid off. Even after graduation she continues to learn. This year she has devoured her book list.

7. Alison is honest. She tells it like it is and is not afraid to be blunt. She is able to think, do, say and feel the same thing. She is true to herself and others.

8. Alison loves her family. She loves to spend time with her family and has a great relationship with them. She has deep family roots, which she cherishes. She preserves family tradition and loves learning about her ancestors.

9. Alison loves to travel. Planning a vacation is one of her favorite activities. In just the past few years we have had a lifetime worth of adventures together. It would not be possible without her passion and commitment to travel. We cannot wait to get back to traveling the world.

10. Alison is supportive. She is committed to ensuring our marriage is an equal partnership. This helps us to cooperate together, encourage each other, participate equally in decisions, finances, and running our household.

11. Alison is healthy. She does what it takes to maintain her physical and mental health. She wants us to be both have long, healthy lives. She does what she can, and encourages me to do what I can, to make sure that happens. She focuses on building sustainable, healthy habits that are compatible with the life we want.

12. Alison loves Disney. She loves Disney more than anyone I know. Her happy place is Disneyland. She is happiest when she gets to spend time there with her family. We are hopeful Disneyland can safely open so that we can visit a couple more times this year.

13. Alison is adventurous. She tries new things and  she encourages me to try them too. We have had so many fun experiences (like scuba diving) because she was willing to try something new.

14. Alison loves baseball. She taught me to love baseball. This shared interest has brought us much mutual joy. She loves the nuances and details of the game - as evidenced by her commitment to keeping score.

15. Alison loves being an aunt. When I watch her with Skylee and Holly it is easy to see the love she has for them. She will be an incredible mother one day.

16. Alison is confident. She does not let others opinions dictate what she can do. Alison believes in herself. She knows her strengths and weaknesses, and she looks to others to fill the gaps.

17. Alison is beautiful.

18. Alison is loyal. She puts others before herself and sticks with them in good times and bad. She is reliable and always true.

19. Alison is talented. She plays the piano beautifully. She puts in the time to keep up her talent. She inspires Skylee to play the piano. I love to listen to her play.

20. Alison enjoys the outdoors. She gets excited when it is warm and sunny and wants to go outside. She feels close to God when we are surrounded by the beauty of this Earth.

21. Alison likes to have fun. She is on the lookout for fun activities like paddle boarding, puzzles, games, etc.

22. Alison is affectionate. She shows her affection by caring for those around her, whether it is a hug or help with a task she knows how to make those around her feel loved.

23. Alison knows how to relax. She is good at slowing down and living in the moment. She loves napping, rocking on the porch, and going on long walks.

24. Alison is social. She enjoys planning parties and spending time with friends. She cultivates friendships and remembers to reach out and touch base with her friends and family.

25. Alison is empathetic. She listens and seeks to understand. She is aware of the emotions of those around her.

26. Alison is optimistic. She is a glass half-full kind of girl. She believes in the goodness in the people and the world around her.

27. Alison is a good communicator. She listens. She is clear and concise. She is mindful of not cutting other people off. She is organized and she is sincere.

28. Alison encourages me be a better person. She gently pushes me to be my best self and to reach my potential. I do not know where I would be without her.

29. Alison has a zest for life. She approaches life with anticipation, energy, enthusiasm and excitement. Her zest for life rubs off on the people around her.

30. Alison is without question my best friend. She is my other half. She completes me.