To my beautiful baby sis,

I know you will read this and roll your eyes because you're a moody teenager who doesn't like mushy lovey stuff, but I hope you know that I'm gonna write it anyway, and you're gonna like it.

I still imagine you as a tiny 8 year old, with curly, bleach blonde hair and four teeth missing. And I hope you know that's never going to change. That's the price you pay for being the baby and getting away with everything. But I know in reality that you're growing up so fast and becoming this gorgeous young woman. And I'm tired of being the ugly sister, so please stop.

But honestly, you're all old now so we can finally do things together. I love that you're addicted to coffee like me, and we go on adventures. Driving around our town and blasting music, singing so off key, during the summer was definitely the highlight. You steal all my clothes and look better in them than me, but we can finally go shopping together and you won't get bored or annoying or complain when I try on the entire store and still buy nothing. And I'm grateful for every second that I get to spend with you.

This June you are graduating from middle school. You've got four years ahead of you full of hard work and drama, but also new friends and amazing experiences. High school is the time for you to figure out what you want to do with your life, but if you don't that's okay too. You're going to play sports and join clubs, but you're also going to fail tests and quizzes. You'll probably get into fights with your friends and Mom and Dad, and I'm going to guarantee that you'll cry over things that won't matter five minutes later. We've all been there.

So here's a little piece of advice: if there's anything I've learned in the last few years it's that life isn't easy. It's actually really hard. And no one is going to hand you anything - you have to work for it.

You're still so young and have so much life ahead of you. And I'm so proud of the person you are becoming (mostly because you are just like me). I hope you know that I'll always be here for you. If you need to vent, to laugh, or even just someone to talk to, you know I'm just a call or text away. And I'd drive hours or fly across the country if you really needed me to. You'll always have me in your corner.

I'm forced to love you because we're family, but I hope you know that you're my best friend by choice. Don't ever forget how awesome you are.

Love always,

Your cool big sis