Happy Birthday, Big Sis...

I feel both tired and energized at the same time from hanging out and singing our hearts out to songs we used to sing as teenagers. It's fun singing with you and hanging out with you.

In a turn of events, you and I have spent a lot of time together these past couple months, and it's been nice. I've wanted to have someone to hangout with and I'm glad that someone turned out to be you.

We weren't very close growing up and I always wished we were. I would actually tell people that I wished we could have a better relationship and after living separate lives, we are actually developing that. And it's motherhood that has brought us together.

I can empathize with you better now through my own experiences. I can laugh with you about shared struggles and smile with you, witnessing our kids grow up. I have loved becoming a mother, but furthermore, I notably love getting to be a mother with you.

Today is your 35th birthday and my wish for you is to be happy and free. I want you to continue to be surrounded by people who see you and love and support you. And I also want you to find someone to love you as deeply as you love, who will see your heart and know how to take care of it and will take exceptional care of you. They should allow you to be/become everything you are meant to be in this lifetime because I believe that is big, maybe bigger than you might realize. I see it though. I see so much in you.

You are creative, kind hearted, warm, and full of light. You naturally share so much of yourself with others because you were always meant to express yourself to the fullest. It feels like a lot sometimes, but it's also funny. So many people hide behind masks and guises and false pretenses. So to unapologetically be yourself in this world is like a super power.

There will be people who may feel intimidated by that, but that shouldn't stop you from being yourself. Anyone who gets to experience and witness you unafraid is on the receiving end of some really great stuff- the stuff of life, of fully living.

And may only those who aren't afraid or threatened of your light but rather fueled and inspired by it be the ones to surround you and lift you up when you need it.

I love you so much. Thank you for today.

Happy Birthday.

Love,

Your little sister