My Sister

"Sisters don't need words. They have perfected a language of snarls and smiles and frowns and winks - expressions of shocked surprise and incredulity and disbelief. Sniffs and snorts and gasps and sighs - that can undermine any tale you're telling." -Pam Brown ( Borrowed quote off Katy's blog)

Today is my sisters birthday. I am sad that I can not be with her. I remember summers and all the different places we were during her birthday (Sunriver, Creation, Beach, Camping...) I sure loved it when we had parties and all her friends would come over and I would get to run around pretending in my mind to be so much older than I really was.

My sister is one of my most favorite people in the world, and it aches my heart that we live a whole state away. As a little girl, I imitated her every move; I find now, still trying to imitate her. She is my little big sister, I surpassed her in size and height when I was 11 ... but she never lost her influence on me. The nine years that separates us now is not as obvious as it once was, oh and how much I take joy in that! For so long I strived and strived to be older than I was to "catch up." It was not until this Thanksgiving that I realized, we would always be nine years apart, but we would continue to get closer the more things we had in common, the more I matured, the more we both grew deeper in the Lord.

I know so much of her. Such a large part of my life, I sat just listening. I would hide under the bed and listen to her talk, or write out loud, or be on the phone, or chat with Cameo ... until I got my hair caught in the springs and started crying. I would hide under the desk, and listen. I would be allowed to go on car rides, and to friends houses, as long as I didn't complain. And I desired to be around her so much, I would go, even if it meant being a 11 year old, listening to 20 year olds discussing religion and politics at Sherri's at 11 at night. I would lay in hall way and listen to her late night conversations with Dad about the Bible. For a few years, I use to just go sit outside her door when I could not sleep at night. I would listen to Six Pence none the Richer and look with my one eye under the door at the flickering candle lights. I sat as she told me about this "David". I have listened as she told me childbirth, and post childbirth. And of being a mom, and a wife. And when she told me to go to college, I listened, I went, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Harmony, I love listening to you. I love calling you and letting you talk, rant, rave, ramble and repeat yourself. I am sorry if I don't offer more of me, I am not trying to hold back, I just love listening to you so much! It's ... what I have always done, even if you didn't know it. I love the Mama you are, and the wife you are, and the words you write ... reading them is like listening to you, because I can hear your voice. I love watching old movies with you, and discussing the language of quality literature. I feel so proud to have an older sister, one I have a relationship with, one I desire to be with, one I opt to be like. I share you (and your blog!) with everyone. I love that I have a sister, and I love even more that that sister is you! 

Happy Birthday.