Brothers and sisters

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Now I'm stepping on my kleenex box, hold on and I promise not to make this sappy moment too painful!


Buuut! There is nothing in the world like brothers and sisters. My siblings have known me longer than my oldest friend. They were the first to hear my secrets, comfort me when I was scared, tucked me after sneaking play time after parents went to bed, first to take a stand to defend me to the death, could make them red with anger one second and red with love the next, walked at least a mile ahead of me when annoyed they had to walk their little sis to school, gave me their most cherished toy at Christmas, held me high at my weakest times, carry me home when I skinned my knee, could make me squirt milk out of my nose at dinner time, financially rescued me when I was too scared to face my parents and make the sun shine on my darkest days.

I am the youngest of four...although I am a twin, my twin still saw herself as my older sister. While my twin chased me around the dinner table trying to kiss me and would scream, "I'm older than you and you have to do what I tell you to do." I would scream at my mother to make her stop, to tell my sister she was only 7 minutes older than me and we were the SAME age! But when I think back, I always acted like the baby of the family and fed off of the love my siblings had for me. I mastered the art of tantrums to get them to do what I wanted.

My brother and sisters are my everything. At times, their opinions have way too much influence on my life, I still give them that power. They have helped me grow to be the person I am today. When I think back to my childhood, I only recall the happiest of times with my brother and sisters. I was happiest when we were together, whether they were the best or worst times. What mattered was being together. We are all in our thirties now, have our own families, have grow apart and live far away from eachother. But there is one thing that will forever keep us together...even in our worst times. It is the tie that will forever bind us, the memories WE created and a love that is not comparable because of our history.

As my twin daughter's birthday is rapidly approaching and gifts are needing to be bought, I can't help but think my husband and I have already given them the best gift. We gave them the gift of sisterhood. When I watch them together I can't help but think of the memories being created and be thankful for mine.

Now before I step off my kleenex box, I will preface this picture with being thankful I was able to capture the memories in the making between this brother and sister.


And the strong bond between a mother and a child. A bond that is indestructible. A safe place.


And a couple of my favorite quotes:


"To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there."


-Barbara Bush


"The family. We were a strange band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us together."


-Erma Bombeck



2 comments:

Mariah said...

Oh I so thought that was a lead up to telling us all you're pregnant! You know adding siblings for the girls...Huh sweet but somehow leaving me disappointed!

Tami Proffitt said...

Mariah, here's the deal! When you call me telling me you're prego, I'll start trying again! Deal!
You are too funny! I love you girl..even though we never seem to meet up these days.