It is her birthday.

When I hear stories about high school these days (gosh I sound old already), I almost always think about how much harder it sounds than when I went through.

Girls were mean when I was in high school, but now they're even meaner. There's more pressure on teenagers -- to look a certain way, to act a certain way, to wear the right brands and be friends with the right people and on and on and on.

All this is to say that it's rough out there for a teenage girl. Every force, it seems, is to pull you apart and reshape you into whatever it thinks you should be.

So to be who you are in the midst of all that challenge?

That's a pretty big deal.

I am so, so proud of my little sister. Because she is who she is.

She's an amazing dancer. She's got an incredible sense of humor and wit beyond her years.

She's a thinker -- she doesn't jump into things that could have a huge impact on her life or on others. She thinks her choices through.

And in the end, she does what's right, what's good.

Anna is 15 today. Holy cow. After school, she'll be going to get her driver's permit! And (not to sound old again) I just can't believe how she's turned into such a real PERSON. That'll sound weird to anyone who hasn't watched someone grow up, but they go from this little thing into a human with real personality, interests, opinions. It's crazy how OLD she's gotten and it's been so cool to watch her become who she is.

She has a lot ahead of her though -- driving, voting, graduating, maybe college. So many great things. 

I can't wait.

Happy birthday, Anna. You're the best!!!!!