We had a great childhood...I mean a great childhood. Megan came along a couple years later, and I don't know how my parents did it, but we grew up so tightly-knit. My sisters were my best friends....are my best friends. I have so many fond memories from childhood...our rockin' 80s childhood (complete with biker shorts, jelly shoes, leg warmers, Michael Jackson and the like). We just had hours of play...of time at home. Things were so....just....less busy. We played outside for hours - I remember Meesh made up this game called "The Panda Bear Game" and it was complete nonsense, but we played it all the time (it had elements of follow the leader and also this weird stage that involved sitting Indian-style and picking grass). I wonder if she, 1) remembers the rules, and 2) has taught it to any of her kiddos?
Our childhood was playing with dolls, and playing house....Barbies, Rainbow Brite and Care Bears.
It was hours and hours of playing records on our stereo in the living room - Michael Jackson, the Bangles, Neil Diamond - and dancing in our leg-warmers. It was Nintendo...and movies...but goodness never MTV (except for the times we flipped to that channel when mom was outside working or something).
I'm so thankful for the way we grew up, the bonds that were formed, and what it meant to be that close with your family....to have them as this amazing support through anything life has thrown at us (and there have been some times we've needed it). I'm thankful to know an overwhelming love for them. Thankful to still be that close with them. Anyone who has a sister will probably support the statement that it is just such a unique relationship....but mine with my sisters just especially is.
Meesh, Megs and I shared a lot growing up. Our first home was a small house. One bathroom. One bedroom for the three of us - and Meesh and I even had to share a full-size bed for a while. I remember Meesh and I would spend hours giggling in bed, tracing letters and messages on each others' backs and seeing if the other could guess what we were trying to write....using our Girl Scout-taught sign language alphabet to sign our answers to each other, so mom and dad wouldn't hear us talking instead of going to sleep. Later in life, once we moved to the house mom and dad live in now, we turned this in to sneaking out of our basement bedrooms in the middle of the night to watch movies. But even as we got older, and had our separate rooms, the sharing continued. Poor Meesh even had to share all of her high school years with one of us...the first two years with me, and the last two with Megs. ;) But I just firmly believe it was all this sharing that has really played such a huge role in shaping our relationship, and making it as strong as it is. We shared so much, and we still do. Meesh is and always will be among the first people I call for any kind of news. My friends are hers, and hers are mine. The very bottom line is....I wouldn't trade one moment of any of this, because it's made us who we are as sisters, as our family.....and as individuals.
Meesh has some of those classic "middle child" traits - the peacekeeper, the mediator between the siblings...the one that feels they maybe have tended to fly under the attention radar - or the one that's always being compared to the other siblings. She has always jokingly referred to herself though, as the best part of the Oreo or the peanut butter sandwich. There are so many things about her that do make her the best.
Meesh, while I love you for who you are to me and to our family, and all the memories and GOOD TIMES we share, just as much as all that, I love you for you. I have always appreciated your talents, and your gifts. You are beautiful. You play a mean left-center, girl - all the guys whose balls you have snagged (that sounds really bad) can attest to that. I loved just waiting for them to try and burn you, only to watch you run down the ball and make an amazing catch, or burn them at third when they tried to stretch their base-running by one more base. You've always been musically talented, and I think you're such a great dancer. I wish I had the ability to let loose like you do...I've always been envious of that. ;) And, I so admire what you've done in the past couple of years with your running....two half marathons is amazing!
I love the Aunt that you are to Tessaira, Gabriel and Lauren.....oh how they love their Aunt Michelle.
Another of my favorite of your gifts, is your work with children - my own children, yes. But more-so the children whose lives you touch every day. You are gifted in this area, Meesh....gifted. The passion you have for working with them......way you communicate with them, the way you meet them on their level, the way they obviously love you and will do the things you need them to.....those gifts are God-given. I think it's rare when you see someone who is truly utilizing the full extent of their God-given talents, but I think you are. :)
And mostly, I think you have such a servant heart - you are an amazing friend to so many people. You have always been free of judgment. You love and trust so freely. These are all beautiful, beautiful things.
We all have a lot to celebrate about you, Meesh; and, we are so thankful for you. These are just my "celebrations" and "thankful fors" about you - and I hope you realize how much I mean them. Much love today on your birthday...and always.
