To my big sister,

First, I want to thank you for a few things.

Thank you for being you. Growing up, you did more for me unknowingly than you did knowingly. I have looked up to you for as long as I can remember; you are your own person and that is an incredible thing to admire.

Thank you for making me smile. Through those years when I was in high school, you were always around to make fun of mom's dance moves and dad's jokes with me. On my worst days, the smiles made those days so much better. Thank you for laughing with me through those times.

When I was a sophomore in high school, there was a boy in the class below me who killed himself. I didn't know him, but it was still traumatizing and it affected everyone at school in some way or another. When I got home that day, I had a conversation with you that I'll never forget. You sat with me and we just talked; you wanted to know how I was doing and where I was at in my life. It was so nice to see that someone truly cared about me. Thank you for taking that time out of your day; I will always treasure that moment we shared together. Thank you for loving me.

You're getting married! You found the person that you want to spend your life with. That is such a thing to celebrate, and I can't wait till we get to do so. I hope this new life with your soon-to-be husband is everything you hope it will be. I hope that you travel together, go to concerts together and go on adventures together. I hope you encourage each other to explore the world, but I also hope that your life together is humbling, relaxing and educational. I hope you learn from experiences shared together, and simultaneously learn how to make the world a better place.

I can't wait to watch your family grow and be known as an auntie. You're going to be an incredible mother, and I can't wait to see how your kids grow. I know they will love and adore you. I also know that soon enough, you will be ready to expand your family and when that time comes, I will continue to strive to be the best version of myself in order to be the best role model for your kiddos.

Since you got engaged, I've been praying for you both and your future as a married couple. I pray that Christ will be with you throughout your wedding day, and throughout the rest of your life together. I pray that you both will love each other, and everyone else that enters your life, as Christ loves us: unconditionally.

I pray for your happiness and I pray that life isn't easy for you, but instead, that your hard work throughout it becomes rewarding. I pray that you get the most from your life and that you love spending your days together. I pray that you continue to make each other happy for the rest of your lives.

Know that I'll be here for you (cue the "Friends" theme song). Life can be hard, especially when you gain more and more responsibilities of your own. And when that happens, I will be here for you for the rest of this lifetime. Know that I will support you when it feels like no one else will. I hope you feel an overwhelming amount of love on your wedding day. And if sometime down the road that feeling fades, know that I love you so much and I always will.

Love,

Your Baby Sister