Today is the birthday of a young woman named Sheylan. She is the daughter of our friends Dana and John and we met her about 27 years ago when we took our first trip through Oregon together. Shey must have been about 1 1/2 years old at the time; she was absolutely adorable and seemed fascinated by my dangly silver earrings. I wish that I could show you a snapshot of that visit but unfortunately it is buried deep in a box of old photos.
It has been an honor to watch Shey over the years that we have known her. She has always been smart and thoughtful and caring and capable. Today her Dad told me that one of his favorite memories of Shey was when he was gate-keeping at a ski race and Shey skied by and “face planted” at his gate. He was amazed when she got up laughing at what had just happened; what a great attitude!
I remember how thrilled we all were when we learned that Shey was to spend a year studying in France as part of her college courses. What a great experience for her and how grown up she was when she returned from that year away. She sort of paved the way for the rest of the kids in our circle to move outside of their comfort zones.
A few years later, Shey went to Africa to teach Aid’s awareness through education and soccer. Not many people are willing to do as much as she did to help others. Shey is such a fearless woman and such a positive force that you can only begin to imagine all the good she can do.
Shey is not only a dynamic and capable woman, but now she is also a mother to a small boy named Zeba. And from what I have observed, she is a wonderful mother and she is still a force to be reckoned with.
Today I made a Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie for Sheylan to celebrate her birthday and to wish her a lifetime of happiness. May she find a way to leave her indelible mark on the world.
Pie a Day Give Away 
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