When I was 14, I got my wish. Her name is Tessa.
My darling little sister is so awesome. We've been really close ever since she was teeny. I'll never forget the first time I held her in my arms. She was a few months old by the time I got to meet her, and I remember being so filled with love for this little person. In high school I stayed at my dad's on the weekends pretty often, and I always got sooooo excited to see Tessa - to play with her, to see what new things she'd learned. And the feeling was mutual! Her whole little body would get so tense with excitement, it was so cute! I loved every minute of being an older sister, getting to dote on her and teach her new things.
Well, now Miss Tessa is 14, and she doesn't need me to take care of her like I would during those babysitting weekends. Still, some things never change. Whenever I go home to California, I still get so thrilled to see Tessa, to see how she's changed as she grows up, to hear about her latest archery accomplishments (oh yes - she's a competitive archer with a whole slew of medals and wins in her proverbial quiver!). She's becoming such an awesome young woman, and I thoroughly enjoy spending time with her, having fun on our "sister dates." Doting on Tessa still comes so easily - she's my favorite family member to shop for, and I always see fun things that make me think of her.
Most of all, I still love teaching her things, sharing with her what I've learned from experience, from hair-styling tips (since she inherited the same crazy curls from our dad) to dating advice to being confident and happy. Not sure how much of it sticks, but knowing I need to be an example to her has helped me become a better woman. How grateful I am for my darling little sister, and I look forward to many more adventures as she moves into adulthood in just a few short years!
