Darling Pickle,

On this moment (just a minute after midnight), 9 years ago, you came into this world.

I was 350 miles away, in my dorm room, just 2 months into my freshman year.
But I knew you were coming and I couldn’t sleep. My (new) friends gathered in the floor of my (tiny) room.

The phone range – you arrived! I hung up the phone, trembling, tears streaming down my face. The room erupted in squeals, hugs, laughing, crying! We were celebrating you, my Dyl, your birth into my life and into our family.

I’m still friends with those girls and we all recall that night with fondness. They can’t believe you’re as big as you are.

But I can. I’m so proud of what you’ve grown into.
Hardworking. Silly. Smart.  A great snuggler. Awesomesauce.

(and lest you think I’m just here to embarrass you – I’m sitting in Starbucks with tears streaming down my face as I write this!)

To celebrate our friendship, I’m giving away free shipping in my yarn shop, because I don’t know how else to include everyone in our celebration. And I really do want EVERY one (in the whole world!) to know how happy I am to have you as my brother.

But since I know you don’t give a snot about yarn, we’ll celebrate today in a way befitting your 9 years: pancakes (with choclate chips + M&Ms), a double feature, video games, making our own pizzas.

So let’s get this party started!

All my love,

Sis

PS. If you’re not the birthday boy but you want to party in a yarn-y way, snag some yarn and put “Pickle” in the Message to Seller and get free shipping, all weekend.

Inspired by Amanda’s beautiful Winter manifesto, I’ve started writing my own.  I’ll be adding to it for the next few Fridays.

February can be a cold, hard month: full of ice and short days and a deep longing for spring.
I find there’s no better way to combat the cold than to embrace the light where I find it and to look for the small moments of joy. To remind myself that there is really just one more month of winter (spring comes early in East Tennessee!), I’ll dedicate myself to this manifesto.

1.  Enjoy and relax with my loved ones;

with coffee,

with chocolates,

while baking,

while playing.

What do you want to enjoy this winter?