To my dearest Rebyroo on your special day. I can't believe it, you're officially old. I'm just kidding, you know I love you.

I wanted to write this to you because I know things have been difficult lately. But it's your birthday and you deserve to feel all of the love and happiness in the world, just like you deserve to every day. Honestly, I don't know where I'd be without you. Every day, you have been an inspiration to me. You're a survivor who helped teach me how to survive too. I've watched you blossom into a beautiful wife, mother, daughter, and best friend over the past few years. Getting to go along on that ride with you has been the most incredible journey. You've been my shoulder to cry on for the most difficult moments of my life, and I can only aspire to do the same for you.

Somehow, God blessed me enough to cross paths with you. I know it hasn't always been the best, but I wouldn't trade any of those moments for anything. Like the times we Skyped until 3 in the morning to find a replica online of your favorite blanket. Or the times we'd make memes out of each other that would make us laugh until we peed. Or all of the times you'd make fun of my New York accent and I'd make fun of your southern accent. Every single memory we have, good or bad, is a memory I will cherish until my grave.

The truth is, you are family to me now. You always have been and you always will be. Thank you for being the sunshine on my bad days, the voice of reason, and the intelligence I need when I inevitably do something downright stupid. I promise I will try my hardest to always be waiting on the other line when you need me. Whenever you're scared or anxious or depressed, I will be here to listen without judgment. I will always try to help find solutions to any problem you have. I will always try to make you remember that you are loved and appreciated.

I know that sometimes we go a few days without talking, but I know that it's because you're doing incredible things. I can turn my phone off knowing that you're busy raising your beautiful little girl and watching you do that makes the lost time worth it. She's lucky to have you and so am I. Baby Pai has brought out such an incredible side of you. Even when you're sleep-deprived and agitated, all I can see is a wonderful mommy doing everything she can to make a great life for her greatest blessing. And as a friend, I feel honored to get to watch that.

Ever since I met you, I've had a gut feeling that all of your struggles will someday melt away. I see a blindingly bright potential in you that I can only hope and pray that you see in yourself too. You move mountains as it is, and you're going to do amazing things. You've got that fire inside of you, the motivation and the drive to make it happen. I will always be cheering you on from the sidelines. I promise.

There are a few more things that I want to thank you for. Thank you for helping me along the journey of finding myself. You've always validated whatever it is I've felt and helped me discover more about myself than I could've ever imagined. Thank you for being the optimist when I'm feeling pessimistic. Thank you for convincing me to go back to school and get my diploma. More importantly, thank you for teaching me that I have worth. Thank you for never giving up on me, even when I've given up on myself. Thank you for sending me stupid memes at two in the morning. Thank you for giving me fraudulent advice that could potentially wind me up in jail and then offering to be my lawyer, even though you aren't a lawyer (lol, you know what I'm talking about). Thank you for teaching me the art of getting stuff for free online because we've got that #SnatchStatus. Thank you for teaching me how to laugh the embarrassing things off, like all of those drawings and edits I did that turned out looking worse than a 2012 MySpace Blingee gif. Thank you for being the Stabler to my Benson (don't argue with me. We both know I'm Benson.) Thank you for crying with me about the fact that Derek Shepherd died. Thank you for not getting mad at me whenever I spoil a movie, book, TV show, or that one Law and Order fanfiction we were reading when we were 15. Thank you for teaching me to be unapologetically bitchin, and to have the self-confidence of Lizzo and Baddie Winkle combined.

You're so incredible, don't you dare ever forget that.

I love you tons, Rebitchka Resnitchka.

Happy effin' birthday. Cheers to many many more <3

Love, Abisnitch, Abigay, Abihoe