Sister Sister

Let me introduce you to someone I've known for 18 years. Her name is Jill and she was pretty much been my constant companion before I moved to Olathe four years ago.

Now, if you haven't figured it out already, Jill is my sister. And not just any sister, she's my only sister and sibling for that matter. It's been me and her ever since November 14, 1992. She's four years younger than me, and I always knew she was growing up, but this year is her senior year of high school. She'll be graduating a few weeks after me and for the first time I'm really realizing my little sister isn't so little anymore.

I'll be honest, I haven't always been the best sister in the world. But then again, who has? So, in light of my sister graduating I've listed two of my favorite memories with her that I'll always remember.

• My mom used to keep magic markers in our minivan when I was younger so I could color while we were driving around town. I was on a big "Pocahontas" kick for a few weeks and decided that Jill could use some spice in the way she looked one of the days we were running errands. I proceeded to draw what I considered to be Indian markings all over her while my mom drove us where ever we were headed to. There was nothing my mom could do to get the marker off of Jill's skin until we got home, so she had stay an Indian for our entire outing. I got in trouble but "Pocahontas" ended up being Jill's favorite Disney movie. Coincidence?
•  Jill was probably one of the cutest and chubbiest babies ever. Everyone loved playing with her and she was always happy. But whenever she was put in front of a camera, her face went blank. No smile, no frown, no expression at all. I remember my mom being so frustrated because it was as if the camera zapped all the energy out of her. Let me show you an example...

So this is the picture that went in our church directory in 1995. That means this is was one of the best pictures that we took and my parents hand-picked it to represent our family. I remember this day. I remember the photographer begging and pleading Jill to make some sort of facial expression, I remember him waving puppets behind the camera in an attempt to get some sort of reaction out of her. Poor man didn't know any better.

So for the first few years of Jill's life, the only picture we have of her that show just how cute and chubby she was are when she didn't know her picture was being taken or she was caught off guard. And just to prove it, I have yet another example...

See? She really was cute. And a chunk. She was also quite the snazzy dresser as you can tell from the stripped overalls.

So, Jill, as you start out on your college adventure, don't forget about all the fun times we've had together. I am so proud of you and I'm incredibly blessed to have you as my little sister. God is going to do great things through you and I'm so excited to see what your future holds. I will always be there for you and I know you'll be there for me. I love you so much. Thanks for the memories and the many more that are to come.