Birthday Beauties

Two of my favourite girls in the world both celebrate a Birthday this week... 

my sister

&

my niece

My sister, D, is one of those rare individuals that is as lovely on the outside as she is on the inside. I love this photograph of her, caught in a moment of stillness and contemplation. Although, in this picture you can't see her two most beautiful features: her eyes, which are an unusual green speckled with blue, and shimmer or cloud over like the sky to reflect her moods; and her heart, which is as big and loving as a heart can ever be, and always has been.

As little girls we shared a room and we used to play and fight and talk late into the night. Even then, we were friends as well as sisters. I recall how - on one of the many occasions when I'd been sent to our room to "take a long hard look at myself" - she risked my mother's wrath and climbed through the flowerbed under our bedroom window to deliver fruit and sweets to me via the little pulley contraption that we'd rigged for just such situations. It wasn't about the fruit or the sweets. My mother's discipline routine didn't include denying me food. It was a show of love and solidarity. Pure and simple. She was about four years old.

Over the years we've lived with each other and near each other and on opposite sides of the world but I know that no matter what the physical distance between us, I can always count on her to be there for me. She's loving, loyal and intuitive, and has all the grace and a gift for nurturing that I lack. 

And she's stylish. Seriously stylish. Her home is beautiful - creatively, stylishly beautiful - and D is the only person I would trust without reservation to choose a head-to-toe outfit for me (including all accessories) for absolutely any occasion. It would fit me perfectly and perfectly express me, and still be right on target for trend and occasion. It's a talent. Sister, friend and style guru. Who could ask for more in one person? I can't properly express how much I love her.

Two of the profound joys she has delivered into my life are one of my nephews, and my baby niece, who turns one on Friday. I can't believe that a year has passed since she was born. I am so thankful that I met her when she was tiny and have been able to spend some time with her during this year but also that we can connect via skype in a way that I couldn't when the boys were as little. It allows me to share live moments in a way that distance would otherwise preclude. Those normal, unremarkable moments that are so special nonetheless. When she happily eats her lunch while her mum and I drink tea and chat, or snuggles down with her favourite bunny for a nap, or giggles at the sound of my voice coming out of a picture on the screen... It's not the same as being near her in person, but it's better than nothing. So much better.

She has inherited her mother's sweet temperament, beautiful eyes and golden hair - in fact it is uncanny how like D she is at that age - and I have no doubt that she will grow into a beauty inside and out too. From me, I like to think she inherited a little bit of the wing gene. You can see above that they are still only tiny buds but one day I hope I'll help her learn to fly with them, in that different and special way that aunts can...

Happy Birthday my Beauties! I celebrate that you are part of my life and I wish you love, today and every day. You have mine. Always.

♥
k ~x~ ~o~