For the first twelve years of my life, I was the only girl of four children. I have two older brothers and one younger brother who all spoiled me when I was younger. Although I enjoyed being the princess of the family and making my brothers play barbies with me, there was still something missing. In 2011 and 2013, I had the honor of meeting two of my very own sisters.

I was confident on both of those days to say that I had gained a permanent friendship, an instant connection, and a sister that I never had.

November 19, 2011, and August 27, 2016, are two days that are far more important than anyone knows. Those days symbolize the legal dates that they became married into my family, but the days that I met them were the days I considered them to be my sisters.

For giving me something I never had, I would like to say thank you in these ways

1. Thank you for protecting my brothers.

Like all Tutts, my two older brothers love to be adventurous, but in different ways. While one of them spends time skydiving and the other is a grown-up kid, I always helped take care of my brothers, and now that they have you I am confident that they are in good hands. I know that they will never go skydiving alone and that where there is one grown-up kid there is always another.

You not only protect them from harm's way but you protect their hearts. Love “always protects and it always trusts” (1 Corinthians 13). I trust that both of you will not only protect your husbands physically but emotionally as well.

2. Thank you for being my best friends.

I consider you girls to be two of my best friends. Although we are countless hours and miles away from each other, I can always text you and send you funny posts I see on Facebook. I can always count on you to accept my weirdness and add on to it. You both have seen me at my weirdest moments and I’m not ashamed. I never expect anything less than a time of laughter and a competitive game of Phase 10 when I’m with you. You bring out my competitive side when it comes to Phase 10. Thanks for not letting me win and always listening to Dad when he tells you to skip me. I can’t wait until we’re all together again so I can show you how to play the game again.

3.Thank you for being a part of this unpredictable family.

It took both of you about two seconds to warm up to us and that’s how I really knew you were meant to be one of us. No one ever knows what will come out of the Tutts’ mouths. No one ever knows when someone is going to:

-Make the whole group chat awkward

-Start singing old school jams and dance

-Sing at your 16th birthday party

-Make Picasso-worthy art with a dry erase marker

-Come up with another dangerous invention

There is something new every day and I’m glad you get to be a part of it.

4.Thank you for adding to the family.

The Tutt Family is constantly growing every day with new babies! Thank you for making me an aunt to four children, and a dog. I am so motivated by the children to set an example for them and to teach them as I am being taught by you all. The dog motivates me to be more interactive with people right when they come through the door. With four children and a puppy, I am even more motivated to keep my energy up every day. I can’t wait to be an aunt to many more in the future.

5. Thank you for being my sisters.

Although we never got to play barbies together, I’m still happy you came into my life when you both did. I have never seen my brothers so happy and so loved by two beautiful, intelligent and creative souls. I am driven by the elegance, respect and grace that you each carry among yourselves.

How cool is it to say that I share my last name with two of my best friends?

I am encouraged by you daily and I never hesitate to think of you each day.

Lastly, thank you for protecting me like you protect my brothers. You have protected me and taken me in like your own sisters. I can not be more thankful and blessed to have you in my life.

Thank you for being my sisters from another mister.

I love you both,

Tinesha