It's so hard to imagine that a short five years ago we hated each other. The crazy thing is that I can't really remember why. These past two and a half years of college are two years that I will never forget. I will always be thankful for them. You are not just my sister, you are part of me, you are my other half.

Little sister, let me start by telling you just how proud of you I am. I am so proud that I can say my sister is a bad ass. You started school after me, and graduated before me. You were able to have a social life and get your school work done. You can be incredibly sweet, and still so fierce, but you always keep your cool, and everyone knows better than to mess with you. The only one that can do that is me. There is no one that admires you more than I do.

I can't even begin to tell you how sad it makes me that we're in two different states, but it makes me so happy that you've graduated and gone off to make the big bucks. I love the look of pride I see gleaming in our parents eyes they talk about you to others.

Now, look here, it doesn't matter how many times you saw "Ew" when you look at me, ask me why I'm bothering you when I FaceTime you, or tell me to not cuddle with you, because I'm never going to stop. I know you love me. I know because if you didn't, you wouldn't let me hug you or kiss your cheek, you still always answer me when I do inevitably FaceTime you, and you still let me sleep with you knowing I'm going to cuddle with you.

Thank you for always making me hot tea with lemon and honey like mom use to make us when we were sick, because we were always sick together. I'll never forget the first time I got sick away from home and you were with me. You kept checking up on me even after I fell asleep, called mom, got me multiple cold pads for my fever, made me tea, gave me medicine, and you hugged me so tight that it made everything okay again. Sometimes I wonder if somehow our parents mixed us up and you're really the older sister.

You drive me absolutely crazy. You make me so angry sometimes, and then you make me laugh so hard that cereal comes out of my nose, but you always make my heart melt. When we were watching "The Choice" all I could think about was what I would do if you vanished from my life. I would literally lose my mind. I don't want to think about what I would do if something happened to you. So don't go flying off of any more bridges.

I know people always say older siblings are supposed to teach their little siblings, but you have taught me so much. Thanks for teaching me to be tough, thanks for teaching me to be bold, loud, how to have fun, and most importantly teaching me how to love myself.

I will always smile when a group of people looks over at us in confusion when they see us doing something unusual in public like me fixing your lipstick, or when I blow my nose and you pick off the tissue that is stuck to my lip. I know that we have a relationship most sisters can only envy.

Even though it's my birthday and I'm sick as a dog, nothing could stop me from being happier than I am right now because I'm spending my birthday with you. Little sister, I never thought I could love anyone as much as I love you. I thank God everyday for giving me the privilege of being your big sister. Side note - I will never get tired of running to you, tackling you, and hugging you awkwardly when I see you.

P.S. We will do all of the things on our list together. Every single one of them.