For Paige. . .

I am also blessed to have another older sister, you Paige. Growing up I must confess I didn't feel blessed and we never saw eye to eye. I was often jealous and we seemed to fight all the time. However when I reached high school things changed. I was very proud that you were my older sister, pretty and petite and you seemed to just know what you were going to do and where you were going. I remember missing you in the summers when you would go and work at camp, being jealous that you had a job and a boyfriend, while I was just the geeky sister. When I started getting bullied and went through such a deep struggle you were always there for me trying to encourage me and help me through that time. I feel like that was when we really became sisters. In my dark time I feel like you were one of my closest friends. You didn't press me for details, you didn't try to have answers, you were ok with silence and just being there and that meant so much to me. I loved our trip back to Indonesia together. Again I feel like we were really able to bond over remembering our homeland, Blair, the funny interactions between the Canadians and the Indonesians, and of course I got to meet and see your first interactions with Johnny. I got to see you two fall in love and help in the sneaking out to see him. That was the best time. Later we became even closer as we bonded over kids, first you had Nicki and then within a year I had Jess. You were a huge help to me the night of her birth, with Mom and Dad so far away and having just come from Gil's Dad's funeral he was out and asleep. I remember trying to get through the contractions without having to wake him and you being right there talking me through them. Then there was that crazy nurse and I couldn't fight for myself so you did. Then of course we have a million pictures because you were there to take them. Then watching them grow together for the few years we had before you left for Indonesia, Nicki calling her "Caillou", I loved that. I did feel devastated when you left for Indonesia. Although I know you were following your calling and doing what was best for your family, I knew I would miss you and our girls would drift apart. It was great every time you came home, and now that you are home to stay I feel like we have rekindled things again. I loved that you were able to help me out and come and take the kids for the week I was away, and I love how much our girls still get along. I only wish we lived closer still so they could hang out more. Thank-you for all the ways you helped me, for the love you poured into my life, and the healing you poured into me when I needed it most. Thank-you for helping to welcome Jess into the world with me. I love you so much and have been so very blessed to have you as my sister.