Happy Birthday, Joel!

Like this picture, you always try to stay in the background, but we still notice your gentle kindness anyway. You care about family and family traditions, you care about the gospel, you are kind to your fellow man, and you will go above and beyond to make sure no one goes wanting.

We especially appreciate you last year for your calming spirit. You were there as great grandma was making her earthly transition. You took time off when there was no vacation left to sit with her and soothe her aches by touching her forehead. She said she needed your calming spirit, and you were there. Hour after hour. We can't tell you how much that was appreciated. Thank you is all we can think to say.

We appreciate how gentle you are with all your children, your nieces and nephews, and your friends' children. They love being around Uncle Jell-o.

Thanks for helping us move when you were working so much overtime. We appreciate all that you do. It's usually done in secret, and you are usually in the background, but we appreciate your quiet support.

Happy Birthday, and this saying is a family tradition, "You are very old."

Happy Birthday, Joel

Dear Joel:

We hope your birthday was a happy one.

We admire your calm personality. We love that you are kind and helpful to anyone needing help. We think those kindness traits are something we would like to strive for and we appreciate your example. We admire that you work hard in your ward as the Elder's Quorum President and we admire that you work so hard to make sure that everyone feels they are important in the Lord's church.

A story we have of you is how you willingly jumped out of bed late one evening to come give great grandma a blessing. She felt your spirit and your kindness and wanted us to make sure you knew how special that was to her. She also thinks the world of you and your gentle, kind personality. Thanks for sharing it with us.

We're very proud of you. Happy Birthday. Love, mom and dad Clift