To My Older Sister,

You were my first best friend, from the days of watching Lizzie McGuire in your room as kids to you doing my makeup and hair for all my Homecoming dances coming home from college for the weekend to help me.

There are 10 things I want you to know:

1. You were my first best friend.

You were the one who was there when I skinned my knees and cried as a kid. You were my superhero with the band aids and the reassuring words of it would be okay.

2. You always pushed me to be my best.

Ever since a kid you have been my second mom, making sure I do my homework, being there to pick me up from swim practice, and always being a phone call away. You still continue to push me to be my best with college and being a good sister by leading with example.

3. You have always been my role model.

I have always looked up to you in every way possible. You have always excelled in school, dance and life. I have never been book smart, and I can't dance gracefully as well all know. Somehow you managed to dance, go to the University you dreamed about and work hard for what you achieved. You have proven time after time hard work does pay off.

4. You constantly give tough love that IS much needed.

You have always been there to give me tough love. As much as it may have annoyed me at times it has helped shape me into who I am today. As a teenager when I screwed up you weren't afraid to tell me like it is and how to change. Looking back, my life would have only been so much easier if I took a few pieces of your advice.

5. Goodbyes suck, but with you they're hell.

When you went away to school I cried the entire day, and for a week after. That year was an emotionally hard year, having you 2 hours away to me seemed like you were a million miles away. You still would call me, Skype me and visit often. When you moved back home I was happy to have you back, until I left for Disney. When I accepted the internship I didn't realize just how hard leaving home really was. The morning I left I refrained from crying until I was in the car. Many nights in Disney I would cry missing you, and missing the family. I never knew how much our sisterhood meant to me until we were over a thousand miles apart. When you came to visit I was excited to have a piece of home with me and to spend time in our favorite place! Obviously you had to go back home and we both cried. I have never been good at goodbyes, and especially saying "See you real soon" to you has been incredibly hard.

6. You have always had my back.

I have always been able to rely on you. If it was doing my hair in pigtails for school pictures when I was in elementary school, helping me with my math homework, being there through the first time my heart was broken, and always defending me.

7. I have been and always will be protective over you.

I have never been afraid to put anyone in their place if they try messing with you. I have pinned a girl against a wall when I was 5 years old for her being mean to you, and I have told people to leave you alone if they have hurt your feelings. I'm an easy going person, the one thing that gets my Russian temper boiling is people being anything but kind to you. Regardless if it's a distant family member or a stranger I will always correct them even if my face turns as red as a tomato.

8. You make me beyond proud.

There has never been a moment where I haven't been proud of you. Watching you dance gracefully, come home with good grades, being accepted to the college you worked for, graduating, landing your first big job I have always been so proud of you. You make the right decisions, you have been mature since the time you were a teenager. You never partied or caused any trouble and you showed me how to have fun at home watching movies on a Friday night. At you being 25 and me being 20 I still am proud of you.

9. I love you more than you'll ever know.

Regardless of the fact adoption brought me into this family, we are, always have been and always will be family. I will do anything for you any time of the day, and no matter where our lives take us I will always be a phone call away.

10. You will always be my older sister.

When I turned 18 I thought the tough love would stop but it hasn't and I'm happy for that. I realized you will always be my older sister meaning you will always look out for me and care even if I'm 60 I can picture you still calling providing advice making sure I'm making the right choices.

If I could have any sister in the world I would still choose you.