Yesterday was my sister’s birthday and this is my Ode to her.

Erin is three and a half years older than me and lives with her husband, Jeremy (he is an amazing painter…check him out!) in Minneapolis, MN.  There are a few words that definitely come to mind when I think of my sis:  smart, grounded, funny, down-to-earth, savvy, passionate…did I mention smart?  I’d like to think I’ve worked through my childhood stories around my sister being “the smart one” but it’s true…she’s pretty amazing in that department.

Erin works in the non-profit world and has always been fiercely dedicated to making this world a better place.  She is currently in charge of making sure the millions of dollars funneled through Margaret Cargill’s Philanthropies serve the people they were intended to serve.  Not just anyone gets a job like that and she is perfect for it.  I have always been super inspired by my sis and her dedication to service.  Our parents both worked at the YMCA throughout our entire childhood and they did a rock solid job instilling the values of hard work, helping others and making a difference in the world.  It’s been interesting to see how Erin and I have taken those principals to heart and put them in motion in totally different, yet effective, ways.

I only see my sis a couple times a year, but when we do reunite it’s always like no time has passed (don’t you love that when that happens?).  Despite our distance, I carry her influence with me every single day and have all kinds of gratitude for her unending love and support.  There are not too many people I can say have truly loved me since the day I was born, but Erin is certainly one of them.  This pic kinda says it all.

Happy birthday Erin!  Love you!

xo flora