For my sister...on her [almost] 30th birthday!

The first memory I have with my sister I was being chased around the yard by her. She loved to chase me with her big, googly eyes. It scared me but made her laugh. She apparently got a kick out of it. What big sister wouldn't, I guess?

A few years later, I remember going on a camping trip with the whole family. I have no recollection of where we were, but I remember a campsite and a lake. Lindsey and Jeni decided it would be fun to go to the other side of the lake...without me. Me, being the little sister, wanted to follow...so I took off running to catch up to them. I fell and gashed my leg open on a tree stump. Many stitches later, I now have a nice scar on my right knee as a forever reminder of that trip. [Pun, intended.]

I remember when I was 8 and our grandma lost her battle with lung cancer. I remember waking up that morning freaking out because I thought we were late for school. Lindsey sadly told me we weren't going to school that day, that mom needed to talk to me, and she escorted me down the stairs to mom. I got the news...with my sister by my side.

In high school, I was a measly freshman while Lindsey was a senior. Of course, still being the little sister, I always wanted to follow her everywhere...out to dinner with friends, taking a drive through the woods, shopping--anywhere. Wherever she was going, I wanted to go along. I remember her being extremely annoyed when Jody would be on my side and talk her into letting me go. [Thanks, Jody! :)]

Later in my high school years, Lindsey became my battle fighter. She was always the first person to stand up for me. Any time she thought someone was treating me badly, she wasn't afraid to do the talking for me. She fought many battles in my honor.

Then, off to college I went and things changed. My sister was no longer just my sister. She became my friend. It's funny how that change just happens, isn't it? All my life I grew up with this girl. We fought. She suffocated me. I scratched her--and left scars to prove it. We yelled at each other. I'm sure we even said 'I hate you' once or twice. But, we grew up...thank goodness. And now, I can honestly say, she is one of my best friends. I am so thankful to have a sister, and even more thankful to say that Lindsey is my sister.

Happy birthday, Sister!

Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship. ~Margaret Mead