Baby sis,

I’m going to start off by saying thank you and you are totally welcome. You’re welcome for teaching you how to get yourself out of trouble, you’re welcome for teaching you how to follow the latest trends (and for never letting you crimp your hair and wear bellbottoms) and you’re also welcome for all the times I beat you up––okay, maybe not, and I’m sorry about that. While you have things to thank me for, I have a million and ten things to thank you for as well. Thank you for teaching me how to share, how to control my anger, how to treat others and most importantly, how to love someone more than I could ever imagine. Sure, we sometimes fight like cats and dogs, but I wouldn’t change a single thing for the entire world. I hope you know that you aren’t just the baby, you are our prized possession––the one who can make up for all of the stupid things I did that mom and dad wish they could rewind and redo. So, here are some things that I want you to know.

1. You can always tell me everything

No matter what it is, you can tell me anything and everything. I don’t care if it’s about something small or something huge. I am always here to listen (and give unwanted advice).

2. You make me so incredibly proud

Everything you do, you somehow do it with such ease. You put your mind to something and you never seem to give up until it is accomplished. You push yourself to your limits and you strive to be a better person every single day. You make me proud on the field, in the classroom, in real life––everywhere … every single day. Not only am I proud, but I’m the proudest sister ever.

3. You are insanely loved

Not only by me. You are loved by mom, dad, our grandparents, our extended family, friends and even complete strangers. You have this thing about you where I can’t stay mad at you for any longer than an hour. No matter what you do, there will never be a time where I will feel anything but love for you. Unless you stain my brand new shirt or crash my car or something––then we can reevaluate.

4. You have me to cry to, laugh at and laugh with

I will always be a shoulder for you to cry on about the boy that breaks your heart, about the people who try and bring you down and even the stupid things you cry about on the days where you’re an emotional wreck. I will always be here for you to laugh at when I make a total fool out of myself (and I will laugh at you too). I will always be here to laugh with you at our inside jokes. You know the ones where mom keeps asking what we’re laughing at? Those ones. Or the jokes that aren’t funny but we cry laughing about anyway. Most importantly, I will always be here to share incredible memories with you––even the bad, sad and gut wrenching memories still seem to have a significant meaning behind them.

5. You are incredibly beautiful

Inside and out. When people say we look alike, the first thing that pops into my head are the two words: “I wish.” Even when you’re dressed in sweats with your big ole’ bun on the top of your head. The times I think you’re most beautiful are the times when you’re generous, helpful and when you’re being yourself 100%. When I see you helping someone carry something to their table because they don’t have enough hands, I want to just hug you and tell you that the person on the outside doesn’t even scratch the surface of the person you are on the inside. The human you were raised to be is almost majestic.

6. I hope you learn from my mistakes

Every single mistake. Even the stupid little ones (like wearing chokers from Limited Too). I hope you paid good attention when you were growing up because some of those mistakes will hopefully help you avoid some speed bumps in life. You know the mistakes I’m talking about? Any of them really: not doing enough schoolwork, spending excessive amounts of money on pointless things, acting without thinking, falling for the wrong types of boys, hanging out with people who don’t have your best interest––okay, I’m done naming my failures, you get the point! Learn from them, don’t repeat them. So far, so good.

7. And take away from my successes

All of my successes are due to hard work and determination. Take notes on the way I worked my way to get the things I always dreamed of. Be a good person, be friendly, be open-minded, work hard, never give up, push until you get what you want or where you want to be and most importantly, take constructive criticism. People say the grass is greener on the other side, but in reality it’s greener where you water it. Work hard for what you want and you will get it.

8. You are a very intelligent girl

You really know your way around a classroom. It’s truly amazing. The best thing about it is knowing that I have someone to take care of my taxes when it’s time for those things. And now someone can teach my kids how to be math geniuses (we all know that isn’t my thing).

9. Did I mention beautiful?

Inside and out.

10. Your smile lights up the room

Whatever type of day it is, your smile is one of the things that can get me through it. Seriously, it’s contagious. When you laugh, although sometimes I have to cover my ears because it’s so loud, I can see everyone’s smirks and grins from wherever I’m standing.

11. I will always be your biggest fan

On the amount of fields that you have played on and the ones you have yet to play on, in the classroom and in the real world––I will always be the loudest voice cheering for you. I want you to succeed and become not only an amazing player and teammate, but an amazing person as well.

12. I will always help you see the other side of things

I will always help you see the good in the bad, light in the dark and the happy in the sad. I will always be here to help you understand why people try and tear you down, I will help you understand why people are taken from the world before their time is up, I will teach you why hard work is so important and I will try and help you understand to love the things that are easy to hate.

13. I will always protect you

Who needs a body guard when you have an overprotective older sister? Every older sibling knows that it’s one thing for us to talk about our younger siblings, but it’s not okay for anyone else to. I will forever carry the memory of mom and dad telling me “this is your sister and you are her protector––no one picks on her or hurts her.” Although there are many things I can protect you from, there are other things like heart break and bad days that I cannot protect you from, but I will be there with ice cream and chocolate to comfort you afterwards.

14. You are my greatest motivation

You’re the reason I never give up. When I think of giving up, I have these vivid images of you being about 5 years old asking to have a catch with me, asking me to paint your nails the same color as mine, asking me to tie your hair in a pony tail like mine, asking me how to ride a scooter and asking if you can hang out with me and my friends. Sure it was annoying then, but now I look back on all of those times when I feel like quitting and I think “how is it possible to quit when I have someone so small looking up to me?” It isn’t possible. That little girl is what keeps me going.

15. You are my very favorite sunshine

The brightest tool in the shed. The prettiest crayon in the box. You are my very best friend.

I hope you look at these things and realize that you mean the world to me. I remember you as a little girl with your crazy hair, messy face, big bows and mix-matched outfits. From that little person to being old and gray with a walker, I will forever cherish you and love you. You are my strength, my pride and my sunshine.

I love you forever,

Sissy