Hey big bro! I know it’s been a while but life has a way of taking over sometimes. The kids are driving me nuts as usual – I love them but their job seems to be keeping me on my toes and boy do they ever do that. I know you hate it when I make excuses, so I’ll stop. The truth is that I don’t always know how to talk to you. Daddy seems so distant sometimes and I know how much like him you truly are. You have been through so much yourself that I hate to burden you with my petty complaints. I know you keep saying that you want to listen because you love me and that’s what big brother’s are for – but it’s still hard.

All I really want to say is that I love you too. I still remember the day when you took my hand and said that everything was going to be okay. I didn’t fully believe you at the time, I guess you know that now – but as usual, you were right. I will never forget what you did for me. You never once thought of yourself and your own pain, you simply gave without expecting anything in return. That was very hard for me in the beginning but now I see how wise you truly are. I’m trying to be more like you but I don’t think I’m doing so well.

Sometimes you seem so removed from life. I don’t always believe that you know how I feel. It’s hard being a wife and a mother. Everyone tells me how blessed I am, but when I go to bed at night, all I think about is what I didn’t accomplish. How do you deal with that? I know there are things in life that you wanted to do, but you listened to Dad instead and always obeyed what He told you. I greatly admire your strength there, because sometimes I don’t always want to listen to His advice. I know He’s always right – but that doesn’t make it any easier for me for some reason.

I just wanted to let you know that I’m hanging in there. I paint that smile on my face every morning and try to remember that I will never have to go through what you did. That has been a constant comfort to me and I want to thank you. I hope you will forgive me for not keeping in touch as often as I’d like. I promise that I’m doing the best I can and you always told me that would be good enough. I believe in you my dear brother and I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you believe in me too. I hope someday to make you proud.

Give Dad my love, I spoke with Him today too, but I know how much y’all talk so let Him know how much He means to me. I’m greatly looking forward to your wedding – I can’t wait for all of us to be together again.

Until then – all my love to you I send!

Your Grateful Sister
& God’s Beloved Daughter
Always!