10 Things I Love About Stella!

Here are 10 things I love about my incredible daughter-in-law, Stella.

1. Smartie! She's extremely intelligent, earning a PhD in sociology from Florida State University! Her research and training was supported by the prestigious National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship. It takes a very disciplined academic to make it through a PhD program., but even with this advanced degree status, she remains humble and down-to-earth.  (She also authors a Stellar Recap Newsletter that I look forward to every Sunday morning!)

2. Gift-Giver Extraordinaire. She makes the most thoughtful gifts! Everything from home-made games to items she's painstakingly crafted, she finds a way to give the most meaningful, memorable gifts.  Often the gifts and messages have a punny message when she gives them to me because she knows I love a good pun!

3. Foodie and Chef. She's an amazing cook! When I was visiting Matt and Stella for two months at the end of 2022, Stella would make the most delicious meals for us!  I remember when I tasted this salad, it was the best salad I'd ever had! Better than anything I'd ever eaten at a fancy restaurant. Move over, Gordon Ramsey!

4.  Hostess with the Mostest. While we're on the subject of food and hospitality, Stella not only wows us with her cooking skills, but she makes her guests feel so welcomed.  She invited me in 2022 to stay for two whole months, and she and Matt hosted Thanksgiving weekend that year, too, including Megan and Scotty.  She and Matt provided a "Guess the Cheese" game. One in a series of other "Taste Tests" we've experienced over the years!

5. Gamer.  Stella married into a family of gamers and she fits right in. Regardless of the game or activity, Stella is "all in." I love how she embraces learning all she can about the strategies of any game and is up for trying anything at least once. Even though she's out of my league in skill level in most games, she always makes me feel included and welcomed.

6. Dress-Up. Stella also will humor me with dressing up in costume when I'm doing some kind of themed family event. I love that she dresses up for Halloween and is very creative in her costume choices and has even made minion costumes for their cute little dogs, Choco and Mochi.

7. Hiker and Runner.  Stella embraces anything she does full on. She tackled the Pikes Peak 1/2 Marathon the year she and Matt got married, and then, again last summer for their 10th Anniversary! She is amazing in her abilities, whether intellectual or physical.  She is also super-supportive of meeting me at whatever level I'm at. I was so moved that she, Matt, and Scotty party-walked the Bolder Boulder with me the first year I wasn't able to run it. And our picture made it as the cover ad the following year! 

8. Travel-Planner.  Stella has an uncanny knack for being able to find the absolute best places to stay and things to do when planning any getaway.  Picking the cozy Airbnb with just the right amenities, finding the restaurants with food catering to everyone's tastes, and planing a unique itinerary are all in her wheelhouse. She is a master at gathering data and creating the perfect unique experience. I'll always remember the trip to Santa Fe and the MeowWolf Adventure as one of my favorite lifetime experiences.

9. Supportive Wife and Adventurer. I appreciate how much of a close-knit partnership Stella and Matt have. I know they have one another's back and help and support each other with all the decisions they make. I feel so grateful that my son has someone so capable and loving as his life-long partner and that, together they enjoy life's adventures.

10. Because She's Stella. As I've gone through the transitions of the last decade with retirement, empty nest, grief, and moves, there have been times I've felt lonely and without a solid anchor.  I remember sharing this with Stella and without hesitation she said, "I'll be your anchor." It was such a sweet, thoughtful, heart-felt response that I still feel a little choked up thinking about it.

Stella is an anchor for me. I feel so blessed and grateful to have such a wonderful daughter-in-law who is such an integral part of my life and our family.  I really haven't scratched the surface in describing all her talents. She's such an awesome mix of off-the-charts everything - analytical, creative, athletic, and caring.  How lucky are we that she's part of our family!

Happy Birthday, Beautiful Stella. Thank you for being amazing you.