My big sister Elise turned 23 today. Fortunately for her, she gets to spend it with her sweet husband, Mark, in Colorado. Unfortunately for my family and I, we don’t get to celebrate with them. I love you, Leesie. Here’s a little birthday gift from your little sis!
Up until the family moved to Utah in 2001, Elise and I shared a bedroom. Elise will tell you that there were times she wanted to wring my neck…that statement would be accurate. Being the active little 9 year old that I was, I enjoyed tagging along with my big sis. Although many of my memories of Oregon are beginning to dim, there are many I feel will permanently stay with me forever; many of which include afternoons spent with Elise in our room. Elise and I would sing and dance to our different CD’s, most notably, “Disney Classics”, Steps, and Celine Dion’s Christmas album in December. Elise would even indulge my pleas to put in my favorite childhood group: S Club 7. I sometimes wonder if this next game was actually suggested by my mother as I’m not sure how it ever got started. I had trouble learning how to read and write when I was younger (thankfully that went away after 3rd grade). Anywho, I remember my mom making me read books every night and practice writing (I wasn’t always too thrilled in the activity). Oddly enough, however, Elise and I made up this game we called “Blockbuster”. In essence, we’d copy down the bios off of movies we owned and had “customers” call in wanting to buy them. We’d use the many telephones my toy box held and played “manager and secretary”. Guess who each played each role? (Yes, grandma, I’ve been playing secretary all my life) We loved that game and spent hours upon hours playing it. I remember playing pirates on our deck. Most of those memories have dimmed, but I do remember always getting out a jump rope, the tire pressure thingy, and the squirt guns…and I think my Barbie bouncy ball (we are very creative girls – even then). I remember our nightly “goodnight” routine. It went something like this:
Elise: Goodnight
Megan: Goodnight
Elise: I love you
Megan: I love you too
Elise: Sleep tight…
Megan: Don’t let the bed bugs bite
As the little sister, I must put this plug in because it still annoys me to this day. Elise would always have to be the one to start it. In fact, she wouldn’t respond if I tried. The perks of being the big sister…I remember the rules we each put in place when one of us got scared in the middle of the night. We could crawl into bed with each other, but we had to wake the other before doing so. While we lived in Oregon, I remember (too often mom and dad would care to know) when we’d wake up in the middle of the night and “sneak” into our family room and fall asleep watching Disney channel together. I remember watching “Mama’s Family” and “Saved by the Bell” in the mornings before school. I remember seeing Elise with her friends on the playground and wanting to be just like her one day. I remember her holding my hand as we drove away from the only home I knew of in Oregon. I remember the first few nights living in Utah and being afraid of sleeping in my own room alone. I remember many times “sneaking” past my parents room, quietly opening her door, and waking her up so I could crawl in bed with her. I remember going into her room while she did homework and wishing I had some to do with her. As we got older, I remember her driving me to school each day. It was on one of those mornings that she introduced me to “Dream Big” by Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band and “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree. It was those two songs that often got us through many difficult times in both of our teenage experiences. Elise was my go to person when I felt upset or self-conscious during junior high – which if I’m being honest here, was QUITE often. I remember going to girl’s camp and feeling comforted knowing she was there when I needed her – which again, was often. I remember when she left for college and how scared I was because she wouldn’t be down the hall anymore; she’d be 2 ½ hours away in Logan. I remember being upset at how our relationship slowly changed as we both grew up without being together. I remember getting the phone call in quilted bear telling me she was engaged. I remember going wedding dress shopping and seeing the excitement in her eyes as she tried on the many dresses in which she’s spend her special day in. I remember the look in her eyes when she talked about how much she loved her fiancé. I know how much she loves him. I know how much she loves being a wife. I know how much she loves our family – despite its quarks. I know she’s a good friend. I know she’s a tremendous sister. I know I wouldn’t be the same without her. Although the latter is somewhat of a cliché statement, the statement is entirely true. She helped make my childhood memorable, she held my hand when my little life changed at age 9, she made me smile when I felt lonely in junior high, she offered advice when I felt discouraged in high school, and she believes in who I am today. She sees the good in me. She sees who I have the potential to become. She encourages me to do what I want, despite the obstacles that come into the picture. She indulges me when I’m frazzled. She listens to me when I cry. She cheers me on when I succeed. Elise and I are different people in different life stages with different goals and ideas. Not all of her dreams are mine and vice versa. However, we’re each other’s advocates; we’re friends; we’re sisters. We’re a part of a family that’s working together to make each other better and stronger. I’m thankful to her. I’m thankful she’s added more to our little family by marrying Mark. Mark, we all love you and above all, love the way you treat our daughter and sister.
Elise, I love you. Believe in yourself and what you can do. Remember your family loves you and prays for you. Eat something extremely unhealthy today and be proud of it...and always wear a helmet.
Happy Birthday and Cheers to the Loving Sisters!
Loves!
Thank you girl. That was so nice of you. You are a wonderfully beautiful sister. Thank you for just being you - and for all of the kind words. You are a gem. Love you.
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