The day mom told me she was having a baby and we went the day of the ultrasound and the doctor looked at us and said, “it’s a girl!” I felt so happy, excited, nervous and proud because I was finally going to get to be a big sister. I would have someone to pass my polly pockets down to, someone to dress up in all my doll clothes and someone to always practice new hairstyles on. I was extremely nervous because of our age gap, I was 10 years old the day you were born so I thought it might be hard for us to ever be close or to actually be friends.
The day you were born was crazy. I remember watching from outside and I came in and was the second person who got to hold you. You were so little but had the biggest brown eyes. I knew instantly how much you were going to look up to me and how much I was going to love you.
Growing up, your life was never easy, but I still never saw you without that cute little grin on your face.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe that you’re already 10 years old. I can’t believe that you will start middle school shortly and in just four years you will be in high school. With me being away, it's not always easy to teach you life lessons, but here is some advice I hope you will take to heart.
1. Spend time with your family
No one in the world will ever be able to replace your mom. The two of you will fight, argue and scream at each other over the dumbest things but she will also be the person to wipe your tears the first time a stupid boy breaks your heart. Keep going to eat with your grandaddy, no matter how old you get. He will always be one of your biggest supporters.
2. Have a big heart
You have gotten the short end of the stick so many times in your short 10 years, and I'm here to tell you it doesn't get easier. People aren't going to always be as kind as you are, but never let that cause you to be bitter. Always be kind, always love people even when they deserve it least and always be the bigger person even when you don't want to be.
3. Don't settle
Baby girl, you have so much life ahead of you. You are just as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside and over the next few years boys will start to notice that. I'm here to tell you to wait. Wait for a boy who makes you weak at the knees, wait for a boy who treats you with the upmost respect, and wait for a boy who proves himself to you over and over again. I'm 20 years old and I'm still waiting on that boy, but I promise it's well worth the wait. Focus on yourself and your schoolwork and never let a boy define who you are.
4. Live
In the famous words of Lee Ann Womack, I hope you dance. I hope that you always follow your heart wherever it may lead you. I hope you never lose your sense of curiosity. I hope that when someone tells you to stop asking so many questions, you ask more. I hope that when life seems unbearable you're not ashamed to get on your knees and pray. I hope that you graduate and go to college and get a degree doing what makes you happy. I hope that you meet and marry a man who makes you feel invincible. Most of all, I hope that over the next 60 years you will always lean on me in the most trying of times.
I thank God for giving you to me as a little sister; you have changed my life in more ways than I can count. I love you.
