Every Girl Should Be So Lucky as to Have a Sister

• Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply... ~Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

If you would have told me, when I was growing up that my sister would be my best friend I would not have believed you. In elementary school and Junior High we were very nearly mortal enemies.

Maybe we don't look like it in this picture, but we did fight a lot. I still have a scar on my thumb from the time she threw a spoon at me (with super-human force), and it cut my thumb open. I wasn't nice either, a lot of fights ended with me yanking her long blonde hair out by the roots.

I am so lucky to be blessed with numerous BFF's, but Heather, my sister, is at the top of that list. We have been through everything together...


And almost everywhere together. Here we are in Hawaii. (PS- I have a little brother too. He is also great- but he doesn't read my blog; and until he starts doing so, I am not going to do a lengthy post about him. Ha Ha).

We've been there for each other through:
Break-ups, in the pre-marriage days for both of us. Thank goodness we had each other to lean on.



Break-outs. Heather has done my makeup on many occasions, and is a whiz at hiding imperfections of the skin. In fact, she came to my rescue on my wedding day and did my makeup so flawlessly! The makeup artist I had booked an appointment with canceled at the last minute. That is one of the most memorable moments of my wedding day. I was sitting in the chair at the salon with the hair-stylist doing my hair, and Heather sat across from me applying my makeup.


Break-throughs. Heather and I do not "sugar-coat" anything when we are speaking to each other. Heather deserves all of the credit for saving me when I was pretty lost. She "called me out on to the carpet" for my bad behavior, and told me to straighten up. She was my only friend for a long time in my mid-twenties. But we had a lot of fun together.


Here we are at the Keith Urban concert.

Breaks- In General. Since moving back to UT Reagan and I eat dinner at Heather's house at least twice a week, on the nights that Nick works late. Heather is amazingly domestic! She could give Martha Stewart a run for her money. Sadly, I must admit that the only home-cooked meals Reagan and I get are when we eat at Heather's house. I am so lucky Heather is generous and gives me a break on nights when I would otherwise be giving Reagan a TV dinner or easy mac.
Also, Heather came to Seattle after I had Reagan and I don't know how I would have survived without her. I was such an inept parent (I was going to say: "at the time"... but most days I still feel pretty "green"). Anyway, Heather showed me so many helpful things when it came to caring for a newborn; and I will be forever grateful.


Brakes (or, lack thereof)- One time Heather was driving my car after a rainstorm. I was in the passenger seat and was egging Heather on; telling her to "gun-it!" through the large puddles in a parking lot. She didn't want to. But she did finally give in to the peer pressure and she floored-it through a gigantic puddle. Water went everywhere, and as we were driving through the puddle I noticed that there was an old man walking between two cars (so we hadn't seen him). The old guy ended up being on the receiving end of most the water Heather sent flying upward. He was soaked. We were adults at the time and clearly should have known better. Heather felt bad, but I laughed like a Hyena, at how the whole thing had turned out. Heather always has been a tad more responsible than me; and she is the YOUNGER sister.


Break-points- we both love a lot of the same things (watching tennis, being one of them). One summer, when I was unemployed she and I spent the majority of our time watching every episode of Dawson's Creek. I can't believe I admitted that! But it is something that is really memorable for me. Thanks for all of the great memories, Heather. I know there are many more sister memories to come!

• If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. ~Linda Sunshine

• Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there. ~Amy Li

• What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it? ~Jenny DeVries

• Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship. ~Margaret Mead

• I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones. ~A 4-year-old named Lauren