When I was a little girl I dreamed of having a sister. (I got three brothers instead and I adore them but that's a different topic entirely.) I read Anne of Green Gables and dreamed of finding my kindred spirit, my Diana. A "bosom friend" to share all my peaks and valleys with. I was sure, since I had made it almost through high school and had not found this kindred spirit, I would just have to learn to live without her. It's funny how God works things out in my life because I had all but given up hope when I realized what precious friendships I had with my cousins Penny and Babbs. We saw each other at family parties, birthdays, Christmas, Easter and then suddenly we had jobs, a bit of money and licenses. Spending time together became easier and our friendship grew. It's been well over a decade now and I cherish my relationships with my sisters. We have traveled to New York and spent weeks having adventures together in Europe, we have shared rooms and roofs and my girls stood beside me and dripped happy tears on the day I married my guy. I'm so blessed because all along I had been asking for just one kindred spirit and God generously gave me two!

Sarah, You are radiantly beautiful. You make me laugh and I love hearing about your thoughts. I think you're a brilliant thinker and writer. Your desire to learn and grow inspires me. I truly feel honored to be your friend. Thank you for sharing your deepest ickies and your greatest triumphs with me. I will stand by you through ANYTHING. Here's to sipping hot tea while sitting on a wrap-around porch, sporting long gray granny braids and shootin' the sh*t when we're 80.

i love you.