Sisters by chance, Friends by choice

I don't know what has possessed me, but I have been on a mission to clean and organize.   It is truly not normal for me, and I am even starting to scare myself.  In the process, I ran across this photo...which I just love and thought I would share it tonight.

Those of you who know my family know that each of my children is unique unto themselves.  They are truly their own person.  The girls especially...are just so different in so many ways.  I am so happy that I gave birth to a pair of sisters.  I never had a sister.  I have two brothers that I love dearly, but I think the relationship with a sister is different.  When the girls were small and growing up, I heard all sorts of testimonials about sister relationships from just about everyone with a sister.  They ranged from sentiments such as  "they are your very best friend in the world" to "they are the worst possible thing that could ever happen".  As they were growing up, I hoped that my girls would have the sister relationship that I had always longed for.  As they grew, they went through different stages of  getting along or not getting along.  I prayed that when they grew up they would always find the other to be that person that could be counted on to be there.

As the story goes, when I was in the hospital giving birth to Alyssa, Cara was having a huge tantrum screaming "I don't want to be a big sister, I want mommy".  This is hysterical to me, because, in general, Cara has always been pretty even tempered...and really didn't have many tantrums at all.  Now Alyssa....that was a different story.  One short year later, I was explaining to Cara that we would be taking Alyssa to the hospital in the morning to have tubes put in her ears, with the hope that she wouldn't get so many darned ear infections.  I explained, that the Dr would give her a medicine that would make her sleep and when she was asleep they would put the tubes in and then she would wake up and we would bring her home.  Cara did not like this.  "Mommy, I don't like the idea of that medicine that makes her go to sleep. Please don't let the doctor give her that medicine."  The next morning we went accompanied by Cara's very favorite doll to watch over her sister.

When Alyssa has had some difficulties this past year, Cara was her protector.  Anyone causing Alyssa any distress would have to answer to Cara. When one of them is feeling down or stressed or excited there is usually a phone call or extended text to the other.  In spite of how different they are, no one really understands them like their sister.  They get irritated with each other sometimes, but it doesn't matter and never lasts long.  They have a bond that is stronger than whatever little annoyance may get in the way.  They are each other's best cheerleaders, counselors, sidekick.  They are the partners in crime, shopping, singing....    Now that they are both away, when they both arrive home, there is excited talk amongst all of us, news is shared etc,  But there comes a time at which point I must vacate.  They get beyond silly, I can make no sense out of what they are saying, the laughter gets to a pitch and frenzy that drives me crazy...but they are tickled at themselves...and they just keep egging each other on....dizzy in their own little euphoria.

At the end of my days....this will be one of the things that I am proudest of....that they....that all three of my kids do truly love each other,  that they came out of family life and growing up...not wanting to get the heck out.  but that they can't wait to come back.  I am so thankful that my girls have the sister relationship that I dreamed of.   I have found that sister relationship, by having them.

"Sister.  She is your mirror shining back at you with a world of possibilities,  She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway.  She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.  Some days she's the reason you wish you were an only child."
~ Barbara Alpert