For My Sister, On Her Birthday

Juli,

It is currently 7am in Cambodia on June 1st, 2012.

Which means it’s your birthday.

I’ve determined that I don’t remember how old you are, simply because you are THAT old. But it’s okay, because 26 isn’t really that old at all. (And just to cover my bases, neither is 27. haha.)

I want you to know that even if I can’t be in Florida hugging you on your birthday and wishing you well, I love you so very much and will be thinking about and praying for you today. You’re not my favorite sister (because I’ve determined that I just couldn’t ever choose between you and Frankie, though if in a life-or-death situation where only one of you could live, I might choose Frankie because she’s younger and maybe has more life to live anyways, but then again I might choose you because you might be a bit funnier and not as snotty because you’re an adult and she’s still a kid, and holy wow this is a long run-on sentence), but I sure do really really really like you.

I hope today is fantastic. I hope it’s fun. I hope it goes well. I hope the sun shines bright (but not too hot, because Florida sucks during the summer) and you turn your face to it and soak it in.

I hope you are safe today. I hope you feel loved today. I hope you realize how freaking awesome you are (even all your grey hairs, because grey hair is a sign of splendor, you know). I hope you count your blessings, because there are a lot. I hope you take the time to really breathe deep and live in the moment and fight to stay in the tension even if it may be uncomfortable, because who knows, it might end up to be the very best thing today.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Heck, I hope you go to the beach today and feel the sand between your toes. I hope you drink your favorite drink, and see your favorite people, and dance your favorite dumb line/square/round dance, and can say with confidence that this birthday was the best birthday yet.

And, if by chance, this isn’t the best birthday yet because of anything organic, I hope you choose to make it the best birthday yet. I hope you choose joy, choose love, choose peace, choose kindness, choose gentleness and goodness and faithfulness and self-control and patience. I hope you choose to make it awesome, because life is what you make of it. I know you can make something great of it, because I’ve seen you find the glad in some things. I’ve seen you be Pollyanna during crappy times.

I am so proud of you. I love you so much. I am glad to call you my sister. I thank God for you – for the way He made you. For your heart, and your passions, and your work ethic, and your ambition, and your talents and abilities, and your sarcasm and wit, and just how absolutely beautiful and wonderful you are.

Well, dang. Long story short…

OMG! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL! I HOPE IT’S JUST AWESOME! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAY!

(: <3