We are no longer just a few floors from each other. We no longer bump into each other on campus, go to chapter together, rock family dinners together, or even go eat Mexican food together. Summer has brought me a lot of happiness, but it has also left a hole in my heart where you belong. I miss you so much. I miss seeing you every day, I miss your craziness, your never-ending supply of candy, your smile and laugh, I even miss your ability to help my friends with their homework (Matt misses it too!). Before meeting you this year, I didn’t know it was possible for us to have the kind of relationship that we have. I never thought I would miss my little this much.

Summer has not only brought happiness, it has brought many opportunities. Between work, appointments, school and planning for the upcoming year, I don’t text you as much as I want to. We don’t talk as often as we should. I am so sorry for that, and I will try to be better as the summer continues, but know that even if you don’t hear from me every day, I think about you every day. You have become so much more than just another sister. You are my TLS other half. You understand me in a way that no one else in my life does, not even Abby. You are the person who sees all my crazy (like my psycho planning dinners, psycho cleanup, psycho over matriarch crazy) and yet still loves me. I appreciate so much about you: your brains, beauty, and heart, your amazing spirit, kindness and love, and I want to remind you of just how special you are to me!

I know that, just as I have gotten busy this summer, so have you. You are about to leave home to help with a camp that I know you are extremely happy and passionate about. Can I just stop for a minute and tell you how amazing that is? You have found something that makes you indescribably happy. You have found passion, zeal, acceptance and love; and you are now preparing to share that with others. It takes a very special person to open themselves up, let others see every part of them, and be OK with acceptance or rejection. You are that special person and you have a strength that I and most others in this world lack. I hope that this camp is everything you want it to be and more. I hope that your campers are inspired by you (I know they will be) and see how amazing you are. More than anything else, I hope that you grow, change, love more deeply, and serve more passionately after this experience. You are already so amazing, this camp can and will light a fire inside of you and I know you will do amazing things!

Well, Little, sappy part over. I know, I know—I always start my letters like this. No more sad stuff, I promise. I hope that crafting for the kiddo is going well, you know I have been up to some crafting as well, getting a grand-little is a big deal! I hope the rest of your summer goes well, and I can’t wait to be back in Kirksville together so that we can dip our cheese quesadillas in cheese dip together and not have to deal with our families stares of judgement. You are the brightest ray of sunlight, happiness and love in my life and I can’t wait to see you again!