sister of mine

I have chosen to take the advice of a very wise friend and stop whining on this blog. Instead I am choosing to lay before you the things I am grateful for, the wonderful and beautiful things in my life, the things that are close to my heart, and the people without whom I would not be where I am today. Today I want to tell you about my best friend, Laurie.

I have one sister and her name is Laurie. She is five years younger than I am, but we are very close. She has a son named Jimbo and he is my little savior. In the months leading up to his birth I was quite the mess and really just thought life wasn't worth the fuss anymore. When Jimbo was born I realized that the most precious things in my life were well worth the "fuss". Jimbo, at just 19 months, inspires me. He talks all the time and has more personality in his little body than I've seen in some grown adults! He is definitely Laurie's child. And I love him like I've never loved anything else. I feel like he is my own and I would walk on fire for him.

Laurie is very busy these days being a mother and wife, but she always has time for me. Laurie is the most unselfish person that I have ever known. She is constantly helping someone in need. She has this sweet spirit that I've always thought was a bit other-worldly in that I don't understand how someone like her could have ever been born of this earth. She never judges me or admonishes me for my bad decisions, no matter what. She encourages me and she loves me unconditionally. Laurie is the consummate friend. She loves to laugh and she loves to be with other people. She knows me better than anyone else on this earth.

I smile every time I hear her voice. And we are actually very different people. She is engaged in family life and I am just plugging along on my own. She has a very strong faith in God; I am still struggling with how God fits into my life. She is a very good cook; I get impatient just waiting for water to boil. She is conscientious with her money; I am trying. Laurie is the kind of person I want to be one day. Full of grace and peace, lovely in all ways, tender, sensitive, and ever so accepting. She sees something wonderful in all people. Oh and she has the best stories! Laurie is always getting into jams or finding herself in funny situations. Sometimes all I want to do is hear about her day and what sorts of things she got into that day.

Laurie is the paragon of motherhood. It is so strange because she never played with dolls as a child--that was me, I took care of my dolls like they were real; she named one of her dolls "babe" and took all of her clothes off. I was incensed and thought she should not be allowed to play with dolls anymore. And now? Let's just say that Jimbo is going to be bored to death in school because Laurie is so entertaining to him. She sings to him; she pulls him down the hall on a towel; she reads to him; she encourages him to be his own person while at the same time gently reminding him to "listen and obey". They are quite the pair! I love to listen to her tell me about Jimbo and what he is doing, what he is saying, what she observes in him. It is always fascinating to me. And every time I hear him on the phone, I melt and think once again that I need to be closer to her so that I can be more a part of his life.

I couldn't ask for a better sister, for a more loyal best friend. I thank my parents for giving me such a tremendous gift. (They also gave me a brother, but I'll tell you about him later.) I wouldn't trade anything in the world for my sister. There is a love between us that cannot be replicated in all the world. I think of all the people in my life and I always come back to her. I wouldn't be where I am without her. I wouldn't be this sane. I wish everyone could know Laurie, but secretly I want her to myself. My heart overflows with love for her and I am so blessed to be a part of her life. No one can ever take the place of my dear, dear Laurie.