You Make Me Proud; For My Little Sister.

Having a little sister is a funny thing. Growing up, you always make her be the student so you can be the teacher and boss her around when you're playing classroom. You also always give her an F on her pretend essay so you can give her a lecture. She loves it, because you're playing with her. She generally doesn't put up a fight when you take the lead playing detective agents, and you make her be the side kick. Or when you get to be the "prettiest" Barbie. She's just happy you're playing.

You grow a bit, and you just want her to leave you alone and let you talk to your friends on the phone in private, so you can discuss boys for hours on end and other things that don't really mean much in life. Looking back, though you realize that she made you stronger because you were allowed to pick on her, but NO ONE else was. She helped you grow a backbone.

You used your sister to practice different make up applications, not even thinking that one day, she will be teaching you. You trusted her with all your secrets that you couldn't tell your parents. And she kept them, and you knew you'd owe her big time. You got mad when she wanted to wear your clothes, but you were allowed to borrow anything of hers at any point in time. Sometimes it's so unfair to be the little sister.

Then you get older, and you want to be around your little sister all the time. She takes you back to when you were her age, no matter how small the age gap may be. She makes you think back to who you were before you grew an extra 3 years older, before you made the mistakes you'd made in that time span, and before you came to realize what is meaningful in your life. She's SO much cooler than you were at her age, and she's SO much more confident that you were, too. She. Is. Hilarious! You will never laugh harder or longer than you do with your grown up little sister. You see her with your kids and it completely undoes your heart. You see her through your sons eyes, and you've never been so appreciative.

             

You begin to look up to your younger sister. At least, that's what I did. You see her take on the same challenges and hardships that you faced as well, but she does it with so much more grace and she creates a different, better outcome than you did. She chooses a career and sticks with it, and becomes very successful with it, too. She takes her time, she isn't rushing into anything. She is level headed. She is smart. In my eyes, she is perfect. She has stuck by me even when I didn't deserve for anyone to be there. She's given me great advice. Where does that come from?

She is gorgeous. And I don't just mean that she is pretty, but that she is beautiful deep down to her soul. She makes me better. And when I'm with her, even though it's rare now, I feel home. Because "distance means so little, when someone means so much." I'm so PROUD of you, Hannah. And I cannot wait to see what you continue to do with your life. Happy birthday sweet Sissy!! I'll see you when I see you, and I hope it's real soon!