those sisters

Truth: I really, really, REALLY want to blog regularly. But the reality of that truth is, I do not make the time! I fill up notebooks, the notes section on my phone, & Instagram with #wendywrites like you wouldn't believe, but when it comes to making the time to actually sit down and add it to my site, I FAIL! I'm a wife, mom, & small business owner that chooses sleep over late nights (or super-early-before-anyone-else-rises-in-our-house mornings) to accomplish such goals, and I'm learning that it's not only completely okay, but some day when I don't have a million other things going on, I will have that time for it and probably be begging for time away from it! So for now, my aspirations of being a blogger/writer will continue being a distant goal and I'm going to keep on - keeping on.

But for today, I'm going to share a piece I wrote TWO YEARS ago for my sister's wedding! It was my first time to be a 'Matron of Honor' and also my very first toast...nope, no pressure. So in honor of Holly and Micah's Anniversary, this one is for them!

First of all I would like to say a BIG thank you to Holly & Micah for not only bringing us all together to celebrate your marriage, but to celebrate love, faith, & new beginnings as well! Some of you may not know me, but I am Holly's sister Wendy. I can LITERALLY go back to the exact day she was born. But it doesn't really start there for me...

You see when I was a little girl, probably my daughter Alivia's age, I would play, create, or entertain myself pretty well...but every so often my mom would catch me with my head in my hands crying. "Wendy what's wrong?," she would ask. I would look up & say, "I just want a little sister!" Four years later, God answered my prayers. Now I admit that I was a little torn on being excited and maybe a little annoyed by the time Holly was being born. After all I had to give up my "art studio" just so she could have a room! Not to mention right off the bat, she fought me. I tried to hold her in the hospital and she would have no part of it! So I decided that at least I now had THE coolest, life-like baby doll accessories EVER! I had a real life crib, stroller, clothes, bottles...you name it, my dolls had it made! Little did I know as soon as my sister wasn't a baby anymore, I would spend THE REST OF MY LIFE SHARING ALL OF MY STUFF WITH HER.

Soon crawling turned into walking and walking turned into terrorizing! I cannot even count how many times I came home from school to destroyed toys (my Barbie collection was NEVER the same!), artwork on my bedspread (no, LITERALLY drawn on my bedspread!), or demanding to play when I had friends over (and yes, she always won by the way, just ask any of them!). I knew we were destined to never get along; we were just always in different phases of life. People would always say, "you will be close someday, when she's older! Just wait & see..." I just rolled my eyes.

Time kept going and we kept growing. We went through moving, mustangs, & Memaw together. She was there with Mom & Grandma ready to fight mean teenage girls when they just wouldn't leave me alone. And when I moved out for college, she was there taking over my room WHILE I was moving out. (And no, I did NOT get it back when I moved back the very next year!) But the truth was, I missed her when I was gone. After I moved back I wouldn't be able to fall asleep, so I would go wake her up, I mean,  see if she was still awake, & ask her to watch movies or nick-at-night with me...she ALWAYS obliged (and I ALWAYS fell asleep within10 minutes...maybe 5). Life moves pretty fast. Before I knew it I was getting married and moved out for real this time. Slowly but surely we were growing closer and closer. Then I had my own baby and I watched that bratty-annoying-little sister, turn into an amazing aunt.

Holly wasn't only growing up, but growing in her faith. Then the next thing I knew she was introducing us to Micah! This crazy-talented, faith-filled guy had my sister smitten. He was so sweet and polite every time we were around him (not to mention Alivia might just have him wrapped around her little finger)! Soon he moved to Australia for a year and I watched their relationship grow even stronger. During that time Holly and I continued to get closer as well. We turned passions into business and all of our talents blossomed even more. Before we knew it Micah was home and I saw no signs of him going anywhere! Then somewhere between prom, remodeling houses, photography, graduation, & donuts, I blinked and my phone was ringing...it was Micah.

Before I even answered, I knew EXACTLY why he was calling. He asked if he could come by to talk with Jonathan and I. I called Jonathan to see when he would be home and said "Micah wants to know if he could talk to us about marrying Holly!" Sure enough, he came over and said they were ready for the next step in their relationship, he wanted to propose. And though ideas started spinning in my mind to help him with the proposal, I couldn't help but be in disbelief that MY LITTLE SISTER was old enough to get married?! Wasn't she JUST in diapers running around yelling "let's get NAKED!!!" (That was only cute when you were 2 Holly; please don't yell that at your wedding tonight!)

So here we are Holly....you are MARRIED! Tonight is such a wonderful memory I will add to our long list of others. But more importantly, tonight also represents for the very first in our lives, that we are actually in the SAME phase of life. I guess they were right after all...we are those "close sisters."

Here is to Holly and Micah - may they have enough happiness for a lifetime, grace for the trying moments, & love for all eternity - I love you both!!!