Dear Sister,

I honestly don't even know where to begin. You have literally been there for me since I was born. I can't imagine what life would be like without you. I'm sure often times I have just been your annoying little sister, but you have always been so much more than a sister to me. Here is a compilation of thoughts that I have been meaning to tell you for the past 20 years.

I have always looked up to you. When I was little it was sneaking into your room and trying on all of your clothes or following you literally everywhere. Now my admiration for you is much deeper. You are such a caring and wonderful person that I am constantly striving to mimic. You have always been such a light to so many people and give the best of yourself to others. I will never forget being a chubby 8-year-old hoping I could grow up to look and act like my cool big sister. Now I am hoping that I can be half of the mom and wife you are. You really are someone worthy of all the praise and admiration, but you are too humble to ever realize it. You have taught me to respect my elders, and that family is only a phone call away. I wish you knew all that you mean to the people around you.

You were my voice of reason, even when I didn't want to listen. I am beyond thankful for all of the life talks (lectures) that you have given to me through the years. I promise they were heard. At some points I felt like you were trying to be more like a mom than sister, but now that I am an adult I am so thankful you always had my back. Those friends that were bad influences or the boys that broke my heart, you were there to get me through every toxic relationship. I finally realized that you were speaking from experience and just didn't want to see your baby sister get hurt the way you did. All you were trying to do was protect me and this is something I should have thanked you for a lot sooner.

You are the yin to my yang. Sometimes we are complete opposites, but most of the time we are so alike it is scary. We can sing at the top of our lungs and dance like nobody is watching. You are always up for shopping or just a dinner date to get our minds off the worries of life. I love all of the memories that we have shared, and I'm sure I will love the ones that are yet to come. The hours we have spent laughing until our cheeks hurt, or the times we have just cried for no reason have been some of the best moments of my life. Even our voices sound the same. You would think after 20 years our family members could tell our voices apart on the phone, but they can't. You have always been the worrier, while I prefer to be more laid-back. If it weren't for your constant worrying, who knows how I would have turned out. There are so many times that you have saved me from hurt or mistakes.

All I am trying to say is that you are not only my sister, but my best friend. You are the first person I call when I need to vent, and you always return that favor. I don't mind though. Hey, I love knowing that I am more than your dorky little sister, and now I am the one that gets to do some of the worrying. I can only hope that someday I have daughters that share the same bond we do because a sister is a life-long friend that will always have your back. Sisters are there to share in life's triumphs and in its sorrows. So here's to a lifetime full of laughing, crying, singing, dancing, and loving.