A Story of Sharks, Alcatraz and a Brave Birthday Girl

Today is Elle’s birthday.

Happy birthday Miss Elle Belle!!

This girl has been sharing light and kindness from the time she was a little girl.

Let’s check that out:

Can you see the light that comes from the inside?

Yep, she has it in droves.

She’s also an incredible nurturer with that light.

Ok and I could go on and on. I could say a million things I love about her today, because there really are that many.

One Thing I Love About Elle

But I am going to concentrate on this one thing I noticed in droves this week:

Elle is not afraid of a challenge.

What’s that? You need to learn to draw or sculpt for the graphic design program?

Ok, no problem.

Scary mountain to climb?

She’ll do it.

She knows how to put herself to the test on so many different levels. And comes out stronger for it.

Sharkfest 2026

And this week, Elle showed up for herself again, because she swam the 2026 Sharkfest Swim from Alcatraz back to the mainland.

YIKES!

She signed up to do this swim last year with a friend. But that race came right as Carson’s dad passed away. So she rolled over her registration for this year and did that thing all alone (her friend moved away from the Bay area).

It sounds like a cool thing, right? Swim from the famous Alcatraz? In once shark-infested waters?

No thank you from me.

But Elle embraced the challenge.

I have to admit, I got a bit nervous when I read all the literature filled with warnings. Warnings about the tides, freezing water, expert swimmers and all that jazz.

Yikes again.

Elle is a great swimmer, but hadn’t really swam in open water, nor in that kind of cold.

But she was undaunted, rented herself an actual swim wetsuit (when she realized her surf one wasn’t going to work a couple days before), and headed to the race.

Not without her awesome husband who was the best supporter in the whole wide world.

I begged Carson for pictures and that boy came through. I love him!

Heading to packet pick-up along with all the crowds:

You can see a tad bit of the nerves at registration, and then all smiles for me and Murph with that wetsuit on to hop on the ferry that takes them to Alcatraz:

The Race Finish

I was babysitting Murphy up in Utah and we were dying for news and then it came, that triumphant girl walking out of that freezing water.

All smiles.

The BEST supporters.

How cute is this poster Elle’s friend made?

I was SO glad Dave was there to support and keep us in the loop along with Carson while I was trying to help kids in Utah.

And that wraps up the story of my brave girl that I wanted to share on her birthday this year.

Nope, she doesn’t let a little challenge get in her way.

It’s been fun to watch where that takes her in life.

LOVE YOU FOREVER ELLE!!!

Thanks for inspiring me always.

And being one of my best friends.

Can’t wait to see where you float your cake this year:) Have the best birthday!