My Dearest,

Yes, you are my dearest. From the moment I knew that you were on your way into the world, I already loved you. I felt all of the excitement I could in my little 5-year-old body knowing that I was going to have a beautiful baby sister that I could show all of my favorite things to.

I remember the very moment I got a call from mom as I sat in grandpa’s kitchen holding a Light Saber spoon eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I was practically falling out of my chair, ready to come to the hospital to see you. I couldn’t wait to behold you with my eyes, knowing that you were the greatest gift that God had crafted Himself, and that I could forever hold you close in my heart.

I watched you grow and grow and grow. You were mischievous, always knowing exactly how to push the limits, especially with mom. You had the cutest little smile and these bright blue eyes that somehow held the entire world in them.

We would play, outside or inside, no matter the season. You’d swim until your little toes looked like raisins, and regardless of how long it took for me to name each Barbie, you’d play with me, time and time again. In the snow, we would make forts, and in the summer, we would feel grass between our toes.

There was a period of time when we reached different points in our lives. I was a hormonal teenager with an attitude, and you still were this mischievous girl, but you were more closed off than you had been. The world had found its way to hurt such a beautiful little heart.

A piece of my heart is with you always, so it smiles when you smile, and it hurts when you hurt. When I saw you change, you became so closed off, and showing love became hard for you, which just made me want to love you more. This point of time was difficult, as I wanted desperately to be close to you.

Regardless of how the world has tried to bring you down with all the things it’s thrown at you, I see a beautiful young woman slowly finding her own light. I see this smart, witty, sarcastic, silly young woman who is beginning to find herself. You walk with such grace and poise, and you appear so unfazed by all that crosses your path. You are fierce, empowered, and unstoppable.

Now, as you come into yourself, I see all of these passions and all of this personality come alive within you. With working on the model team and creating your YouTube channel, I’ve seen the world shine in your eyes again. I see this gorgeous woman unfolding, a beautiful rare flower opening in the morning sun.

In the next couple of years, you will be graduating and starting college. I cannot wait to see all that you will begin to do, and all of the world you’ll get to see. I see this open-minded, path maker right before my eyes, and I know that you will only make strides in life to show the world the love that you’ve found to give.

I want you to know that you have a beautifully courageous soul. I’ve seen the light in your eyes fade, and I’ll do whatever I must to keep that light as bright as I see it when we are driving down the road being our silliest selves and singing loudly to a song we don’t know all of the words to. You have this whole life ahead of you, and I can’t wait to watch you live it.

When all else fails, just be, and maybe call mom. She gives the best advice, and believe me when I say that there is nothing you could ever do that would make her stop loving you. And the same goes for me. Even when you give me one of your little back-patting hugs, I love you just as I always have.

You’re a unique gem in a world of rocks, and girly, I can’t wait to have you by my side for all of life’s greatest moments for us, just as we have stood by each other in life’s hardest moments so far. Always remember that through everything, you’ll have me to lean on. And forever, I’ll always be the loudest and proudest in the cheering section of your life.

With Love and One Direction Throwbacks,

Your Big Sis