Hello Blogging World! I figured what better day than today to post my first blog on this shared moms blog.  Today is the birthday of one of my favorite people in the entire world.  Heather Ray!  She is my younger cousin, by 2 years 4 months.  Growing up she was my best friend.  We spent many days as kids going roller skating, playing at Garrison park, having slumber parties together, ringing in the new year at our grandmother's house, playing dress-up and (I hate to admit this) many MANY trips to McDonald's together for the ever so famous Happy Meals!  She was the cutest little girl with her many talents including sign language, magic acts, modeling, tap dancing and selling Girl Scout cookies! I have so many fond memories of our childhood together.  We went to different elementary and middle schools but were able to reunite in high school and college where we made many more memories.  We were on the drill team together and so many good times on our lunch breaks in high school just being silly teenage girls.  In college, we had so much fun going to football games, college parties and road trips to TX-OU weekend.  Some of those memories I'll leave IN our memories to save embarrassment! Ha! Anyway, we've worked together at interesting places like a car wash and a restaurant and created more memories trying to "grow up" and become adults.  To my sadness, she moved away to marry her now husband of 10 years and live a lovely life in San Diego.  Although I miss her all the time, I'm so thankful for the wonderful life she has with her husband and two adorable girls.  (And I can't wait to go visit them again!) I only wish our daughters (only 9 months apart) could grow up together the way we did.  But hopefully they'll grow closer each time they visit each other on trips to and from Texas and Cali.  Cousins are truly a blessing and I hope they cherish each other the way I cherish Heather.  Maybe one day as adults they'll share a blog together and keep in touch wherever they may end up! So on this day I want to wish a VERY VERY Happy Birthday to Heather! The sweetest, funniest, silliest, smartest friend ever.  She truly is beautiful inside and out.  I love you!!