To My Siblings...

I'm sure on your social media reel you've seen a meme or worded photo talking about best friends or true friendships. The list of qualities include "a good listener", "always there", "walks right into your house like they live there", "pick up conversation like no time has past".... Well, I am blessed to have such friends. One who has known me my entire life and two who I have known their entire life. They have seen me at my very, very worst, know all of my secrets, and I can talk to about anything. They aren't very good at keeping secrets, however, for if I tell one, all three will somehow know about it. That's really perfectly okay though -- it's usually because they know one of the others is better suited to talk about whatever it is that's going on. I don't really call them friends though -- they are my brothers and my sister.

We've been through a lot together. We have stories and secrets that no one else knows -- inside jokes that only we find funny. We tell the same stories over and over and over and they are ALWAYS funny! Was it always like that? Absolutely not! I fought with my siblings terribly! When I was probably 8, 9, 10 - 14ish, my big brother was my living nemesis, my baby sister was the most annoying human on the face of the earth, and my little brother had middle-child-syndrome where he made it quite clear that I wasn't the boss of him -- and I was, in a word, bossy, so that annoyed the snot out of me! (Surely this is true of most, if not all "siblinghoods".) Family anecdotes aside, our years growing up together unknowingly crafted a bond that is unbreakable. They are 3 of the greatest people I will ever know. My brothers and my sister are 3 of my most treasured friendships. They are the foundation of who I am and I couldn't be more grateful for them. I would be lying if I told you that we always agree with each other -- we don't. BUT, what makes our friendship stronger than most is that even when we don't agree, we are in each other's corner. We will always stand beside each other proudly or lift the other up, when need be. That's what makes the friendship of siblings different.

As we became adults (the "baby" turned 22 this year and the oldest turning 30 this winter), we spread out across the state, started our own little families, and/or began new journeys. With that, our family grew.
I have, in the past 5 years, gained 3 sisters and in return, my siblings gained another brother. Our village is growing and each person makes it a little stronger. They are the Aunts and Uncles to my little girl and though she doesn't know if yet, they will be her circle of confidence and strength, as they are mine. When she doesn't agree with her Daddy and me (and Heaven knows, she won't always), and she runs to one of them for advice or to rant, they will dry her tears, tell her funny stories about "when we were kids", and remind her that we love her. They will because that's what brothers and sisters do -- that's what Aunt and Uncles do.

I am blessed. Sometimes it slips my mind, but never for long. In my prayers, I count my brothers and sister... sisters some of my greatest blessings!