Special....

What makes something "special?"  Is it something that surpasses that which is common or usual?  Is it something "Exceptional?" Or is it something that is distinct and one of a kind?  It is something distinctive indeed.....sole, specific and unique! 

Well, that is my niece, Michelle!!!  Today is her 40th birthday...........which is a very special day for our family!!!

Michelle is the oldest of three girls........born in April.......the first child to my sister and her husband, the first grandchild to my mom and dad and the first Great-Grandchild to my grandparents, Gramps and Grami. 

What a special day it was...........April 26, 1980.  A day full of joy and happiness!!!  A day filled with love!!!  A day to remember..............

What makes Michelle special?  Many things!  She is gorgeous, intelligent, flexible, adaptable, kindhearted, hard-working, industrious and wonderful!!!  She, like Mary Poppins can make ANY day special! 

SUPER-CAL-I-FRAG-I-LISTIC-EX-PI-AL-I-DO-SIOUS!!! Yep!  That's Michelle!

Just walking with her and her doggie, Luna is special. Sharing a cup of coffee at the Mad Llama coffee shop is special.  Sharing lunch at First Watch is special. Making dinner at home is special. Even doing laundry with Michelle is special.  You see, it's not the place or the event you share with Michelle....it's the person!  She is the Extra-Special ingredient!!!

When my grandmother, Dorothy was alive, she would call Michelle "The Little Red Hen."  Michelle always wanted to help, always showed compassion when someone needed a little companionship, always offered herself, and was a little ray of sunshine anywhere she went!  She is/was the Special ingredient!

Remember the old song:  The Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog?
 Here are some of the words to the song: 
"Why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what's on the other side?
 Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told, and some choose to believe it,
I know they're wrong; wait and see....
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow connection;
The lovers, the dreamers and me."

My family has found that Rainbow connection in Michelle......she's a lover, a dreamer and she can brighten up any room!!!  She is the sunshine after the rain......the place where the Rainbow can shine!!!

Thank you, dear Heavenly Father for sending this ray of sunshine into our lives!