Dear Big Sis,

I am the only child that my mom and dad decided to have, and I was never too happy about that. I always knew, though, that I had an amazing (and enormous) extended family full of people who loved me. I knew I had a lot of awesome cousins with whom I got to grow up and share memories with. But you chose to fill the shoes of the sibling that I never had.

From the day I was born, you made a commitment to me and decided to spend a little extra time with me. You'd take me on dollar store shopping sprees and split a Coldstone "Birthday Cake Remix" with me whenever there was anything to celebrate.

Even when you moved all the way to New York (Michigan to New York felt like the sun to Jupiter to 6-year-old me), you'd come visit me whenever you could. And when you couldn't, you'd call and ask about the elementary school 411 and updates on American Idol.

You never failed to show up when I invited you to big things, though. You made it home to come to "special person's day" at my school in 3rd grade, and you watched me perform my saxophone solo in 8th grade jazz band. You were busy, but you always made time to do my eyebrows, instill good morals in me, and everything in between.

You've unconditionally stood by me through the hardest moments of my life.

You've never failed me, and you've always taken care of me.

You asked me to speak at your wedding and be one of your bridesmaids - just like a sister would.

You made sure your husband understood how close our bond is, and he has become a big brother to me too.

You made a big deal out of telling me that you were pregnant and revealing the baby's gender to me.

You've let me be an aunt, something I thought I would never get the opportunity to do.

You've changed my life for the better in every aspect. You took a job that you weren't assigned, and you execute it every day like it's your only one.

I've never felt like I've missed out on anything in this department - and that is all thanks to you.

I want to say thank you for taking on the task of an extra little sister when you definitely didn't have to. Having you in my life fills my heart every day in a way that I didn't think I would ever have. Thank you for honoring your selfless commitment every single day and being my go-to and best friend. Thank you for the 19 years of giggles, fun, memories, support, comfort, and - most importantly - sibling love.

We may share only grandparents, not parents, but you are my big sister. Having you as a sibling is hands-down the biggest blessing in my life.

Cheers to many years to come full of filling thanksgiving dinners, over-the-top car singing, disagreeing over who's the best Big Ten team (*cough* go Illini *cough*), nail "surgeries," clothes swapping, intense family games of Scattergories, and summer walks with the baby.

I love you, J.

- Your little sister