This past weekend, both of my girls were invited to separate sleep overs. Hubby and I could hardly believe that both of the girls would be gone for the night. They are just growing up so quickly.
My oldest daughter had to be dropped off first. My youngest asked if she could walk with me to take her sister in and I agreed. When it was time to leave, my youngest daughter gave her big sister a long, heartfelt hug and then told her in the sweetest voice I have ever heard: “I love you Yonnie”. (Awwwh!)
As we drove off, my youngest said that she missed her sister. I calmly answered, “I know sweetie”. Then I looked back at her and she had big crocodile tears streaming down her face. She was crying about being without her sister.
It was so sweet. Of course, she was all better when it was time for her to be dropped off. When they both came home on Sunday, the bickering started immediately. Nonetheless, their sweet interaction left a lasting impression on me.
As an only child, I did not have the experience of crying after my big sister or bickering with her. I can remember begging my parents for a sister or brother and I always felt like I wouldn’t get a chance to be a “real” auntie.
Looking back over my life, I can honestly say that I have surrounded myself with fabulous “sisters”: women who have been there for me, loved me, laughed with me, cried with me, applauded me and told me when I was wrong with a capital “W”.
One of my first “sisters” was my cousin, “Michelle”. I am 7 months older than Michelle and I have prided myself for forever, that she is named after me! My name is Katina Nichelle and she is Yolanda Michelle!
She and I grew up very close and attended the same schools. As in all relationships, we had our ups and downs. Yet, we have been able to love each other, offer forgiveness when necessary and most of all, LAUGH!
(We couldn’t have been more than 5 and 6)
Michelle lives in Israel now so Facebook is our best way to communicate. She came to visit us Tuesday and it felt like we were little girls all over again. We giggled, showed my girls goofy old pictures, ate yogurt and played Just Dance on the Wii. It was so much fun and a fabulous memory. The quote is so true, we are cousins by chance, friends by choice.
Still enjoying girl time 30 years later!
My life is so rich with girlfriends. I have dear friends that my life has been intertwined with theirs since grade school and we are very close even today: (Lakeysier, Traci, Ramonda). Still more fabulous women that I met in college (Pam, Karena, Donyell). This list gets richer as I think about Nichole, whom I met right out of college. I have done life with these women. Weddings, funerals, births, you name it!
In the last couple of years, I have been truly blessed to meet more great women. It seems that at every job, I have been impacted by at least one fabulous woman: (Princetta, Amy, Kianna, Tonya, Leesha, Theresha). Church has also lended me some great gals (Angela, Yonkardia, Christina, Tiffany, Pam, Sharon–just to name a few).
In the last couple of months, I have been blessed to lead an amazing group of women in my Zumba class and have met some awesome sister Instructors!
Please don’t think everything is moonbeams and unicorns! As with anything, I have met some “mean girls” and some women, who for whatever reason, just cannot commit to a real friendship.
Through it all, I am just so thankful for my sisters! Journeying through these relationships has taught me to be flexible, empathetic, caring, forgiving and willing to ask for forgiveness when necessary.
Proverbs 17:17
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
A friend is always a friend, and relatives are born to share our troubles.
Yes, you can have friends that are very much like 'blood' sisters. I have brothers but no sisters. I also now only have boys! Loved the post. A lovely insight and I like the way it was linked in with your two girls.
Nina
Friends and sisters sure do make life more fun!
It sounds like you have some amazing “sisters!”
You have some amazing sisters it seems! The story of your girls being dropped off at their sleepovers was so sweet.
Came from PYHO!
The story of your girls is so sweet!
I only had a brother, so I didn't have that sister bond either. But it seems like you truly have been blessed with some amazing sisters in your life. Thanks for sharing your heart, it was a great post!
what a gorgeous post, I have a sister who is 2 years younger than me and we've had our ups and downs…lots of them but she is still the girl of my heart and I have 3 best friends too who are my “family”, who have enriched my life in every single way possible. Thanks for sharing yours with us.
Those pictures are great! I so have the same the girl scout/brownie photos of myself! LOL
There are some special women I call sisters in my life too. I agree, their friendship is a rich blessing!
I've always said that blood has nothing to do with family. I think it's awesome that your girls have fun and want to be together but can be their own person at the same time. I love my blood sisters and my sistas from anotha motha!!!
Kat, What a wonderful post. I love reading your blogs, they inspire and motivate all that read them. I'm sorry Jourdan and I didnt get to hang out with you and Michelle. I remember babysitting you, and I feel more like a 3rd mom (Your Mom Mary, my mom (Aunt Joyce), then me. So, maybe your third sister group is family. We certainly love you. You're everything I wanted to be and everything I hope my daughter will be! Luv u Cousin! ~tj
Beautiful tribute to your girls, your “sisters” and your friends. I live far from my sister now that we are adults, and there is not a day that goes by that I do not miss her. I spend all of my long distance minutes to talk to her every day.
Stopping by from PYHO
~Annie @ astonesthrowfrominsanity.blogspot.com
and the funniest thing – is how they bicker when they're together – yet the very same day, maybe moments later, be craving each other's attention. And like you say, when one is gone, the other is missed – although getting them to admit that might be difficult
they will always have each other, and you gave them that. I have one sister by birth – and now, because I blog in this community, a gazillion by choice. Sisters are good!thank you for this. God bless and keep you Katina, and God bless and keep each and every one of yours this day.
I was raised an only child until my mothers second marriage. It was then I gained my brother and the sibling I never knew I was missing. My children have an awesome uncle and aunt they would have never had and I look forward to being an aunt one day too.