Dear my Younger Siblings,

Hi there!

You are both probably sitting at home now after your long days at school, but I wanted to let you know how much I miss you and how much you both mean to me.

I know I didn’t always express this as much as I should have when I was living at home. I am sorry that sometimes I was too busy to play with you and your dolls or your cards, or unable to watch Harry Potter for the 5th time with you, and instead was forced to lock myself away in my room to do homework.

But I want you to know that I am so grateful that I tried my best to spend as much time with you as I could. I loved being at home with you, waking up to your little hands tugging at my hair. It was sometimes hard that we were so many years apart in age, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I was able to relive each phase of my life as you went through yours. You kept me grounded and my reality in check by allowing me to see the world through your beautiful eyes. Through you, I learned what matters most and how to remain joyful.

Even if I didn’t say it out loud, I want you to know that I have always been so in awe of you and I am so proud of everything you do. I remember holding you when you were born, and the day you first said my name. I remember watching you learn to love the world. I can’t get enough of seeing you pursue what you love to do--I am your biggest fan. You inspire me by how you choose to follow your own path and how you already have so much self-confidence. It has been a blessing to have had the opportunity to watch you grow up and to be able to continue to watch you grow.

You may think that you aren’t with me anymore because I am away at college, but you couldn’t be more wrong. It is not just in the updates that Mom and Dad give to me or how we Facetime during your walk home from school, but you should know that I talk about you to everyone here...I mean everyone. They all know your names--my friends, my professors, even the staff at the cafeteria all know who you are. They have heard so many stories about you. They have seen videos of you singing in the kitchen and know which girl you took on a date. Everyone here who loves me, loves you too. You are not just in my world, but your joy has spread to everyone I touch. You are in college with me.

I want you to know that I also think about all the things we have done together way more often than you can imagine. When I am up late studying, I remember how we would sneak into the kitchen and make those pillsbury chocolate chip cookies. Every time I walk out of my dorm and it’s snowing, I think of how we would rummage through the basket of mittens and scarves in the hall closet picking out the craziest combinations before rushing out the door. When I get up slowly on the weekends, I remember how you used to wake me up by pretending to be a rooster and “cock-a-doodle-doodling” until I was forced out of bed to play with you.

So now I want you to promise me that you will try to remember this, especially when it seems that I am far away. Even though I can’t see you everyday, I carry you with me always. And even though my identity may shift as I get older, being your older sister is something that will never change. I promise you--my love for you will only keep growing.

I miss you two very much!

xo,

Your Older Sister