April 2nd, 2008 by Kateastrophe

Today is beaituful Sara’s birthday!!!! Whooo hooooo!! (And I know, could my friends have more birthdays this week!? Sheesh!! Everyone’s parents got busy toward the end of June, I tell you what!!)

Sara and I met during my senior year in high school, which was her freshman year at BYU. She lived down the hall from Hannah in the dorms, and they had quickly become friends. Hannah introduced us and we immediately hit it off. Of course the first night we met, Hannah pantsed poor Sara, underwear and all, so I like, met Sara, if you know what I mean! Then she was just sort of seamlessly integrated into our group of friends and we’ve been in love with her ever since.

Sara is BY FAR the happiest, cheerfullest, funniest most darlingest human being I have ever met. She is ALWAYS smiling and laughing, her blue eyes sparkling with glee. I seriously can’t figure out how so much joy can be packed into such a petite person! Even in her moments of deep despair and sadness (which are RARE), you’ll find a smile or a laugh somewhere in her and pretty soon the world is bright, sunny and delightful again. That’s what I always think of when I think of Sara. Sunshine.

Well, sunshine and sugar. Sara has a love affair with candy that you’d be pressed to find elsewhere. Her love of JuJu hearts rivals the passion of Don Juan. I love going to her house because you can always find some tasty treats hidden away in her cupboards. She showed me the joy that is a chocolate covered cinnamon bear. Ohmagosh.

We lived together for one semester during my sophomore year at BYU. She was studying nursing (and like really studying hard all the time) and I was my spazzy Music Dance Theatre major (non-studying) self, but we had a blast sharing a room. During that time she introduced me to the delicious nectar called Diet Dr. Pepper (we’ve both since witched teams and play for team Diet Coke now, but at the time, Diet Dr. Pepper was the juice of life). I have so many fun memories of living with Sara. One night when she was making dinner I heard hysterical screaming from the kitchen. I rand down to see that she had somehow lit our cheap, crappy stove on fire. NO real damage was caused but it was FUN-NY. I think she was making fajitas . . . Another time she was making sugar cookies and we all forgot about them and they burned. We ran the smoking tray of cookies outside and set them down under our stairs to “cool off” and . . . well, we left them there for the rest of the semester. I remember moving out of our apartment and seeing those cookies still sitting there. It was so dang funny. We stayed up late talking and laughing. We drove to Crest to get bevs. We talked about cute boys and our futures. Those are some of my sweetest memories of college. I can still see Sara laying in bed, Diet Dr. Pepper at her side, studying her thick chemistry books and telling me funny stories.

Sara is an amazing wife to her (darling!) husband Dan and an even more amazing mother to her two (darling!) kids Sam and Lucy. You can just tell by looking at those kids that they are adored and happy. Their home is filled with laughter and joy and it’s infectious. I love, love, love being there. I am trying to convince them to move to Arizona so I can get me some of that joy more often!

Sarbee, you have been such an amazing friend and such a joy to have in my life. You brighten up every room and when I see your name on my caller ID, I just start smiling my biggest smile because I know when I pick up, I’ll hear your happiest “Kaaaaatttiiiieeeeeee!!!” You are an amazing woman and an even more amazing friend and I think all of us who know you and get to call you friend consider ourselves very, very lucky. Have the happiest, happiest birthday ever! (Oh and Rhonda and I have a SWEET present for you. Just you WAIT! You’re gonna love it! Also, when I get home I have even more pictures. So check back for updates tonight or tomorrow!!)

LOVE YOU SARA!!