Thank you. For everything. Thank you for the late night video game marathons. Thank you for the billions of laughs. Thank you for still playing board games with me. Thank you for watching me play softball and for sitting through my dance recitals year after year. Thank you for not getting mad at me when I was too busy to go see your concert. Thank you for not embarrassing me too much when I would bring a boy home. Thank you for listening to me when I told you to try new things.
Also, thank you for listening when I told you that what you were wearing was completely unacceptable to wear in public. Thank you for taking my side in arguments with Mom and Dad. Thank you for letting me think I’m stronger than you even when you’re twice my size. Thank you for loving me for what I am and what I am not. Thank you for putting up with teachers asking you every year if I’m your sister.
Thank you for letting me know when I need an attitude adjustment and thank you for (usually) being nice about it. Thank you for not telling me when Mom and Dad are coming to surprise me. Thank you for who you are on a daily basis. Thank you for inspiring me to be a better person as a result.
I miss you. So much. I miss sharing a bedroom with two beautiful, smiling faces. I miss always having someone awake when I come home. I miss having people to cook breakfast for. I miss staying up until 2 in the morning, playing Minecraft or Life and getting yelled at by Dad for laughing too loud. I miss watching sports with you. I miss driving you to school. I miss playing catch.
I miss your homemade hot chocolate and cozying up by the fire. I miss the accents and impressions you do that make me laugh so hard that tears roll down my cheeks. I miss picking up you and your friends from school events. I miss watching you play baseball. I miss going to dance class with you on Saturday mornings. I miss family dinners. I miss making you come to the mall or to the grocery store with me. I miss you putting me on your back and squatting me to show me how strong you’ve become. I miss helping you choose outfits. I miss having you there to help me pick out my outfits. I miss your hugs. I miss it all.
I love you. With all my heart. I love every ounce of your being. And the best part is, no matter what you do, I will still love you, even if it doesn’t always seem like it. I love that you’ll be there when I finally get home and I love that you come see me for those times when I can’t come home. I love watching you grow into incredible, intelligent human beings. I love you more.
Having a big family may be an acquired taste, but I wouldn’t choose any other flavor. There are so many parts of life that would have passed me by without having siblings by my side. Being three hours away from all of you is no small task, but thanks to technology and automotives, you’re always closer than I think. Please don’t ever underestimate how highly I think of you. Bub, Graham, Grace, Ali – I love you guys.
