Someone Special.

It was just barely past 6 in the morning, and everyone in the house was till sleeping, but my cousin Lindsay and I were smiling and giggling as we took a look at our masterpeice-

We had “painted” our clubhouse in her backyard with some leftover paint we managed to scavenge in the garage and used some old packing tape rolls as paint rollers. I vividly remember the bright red color that now adorned the walls of the clubhouse. Streaky and messy…dripping everywhere. But we thought it was brilliant.

Back in the day of our carefree childhoods, we also thought it was a good idea to use a 5 gallon bucket hanging by some jumprope as an “elevator” to the second story of the clubhouse. “Get in the bucket and we’ll pull you up!” we would yell to our little sisters. It’s amazing no one was seriously injured.

We would grind up colored sidewalk chalk and try to “sell” it to our neighbors as eyeshadow. We would pretend that our living rooms were Disneyland, and we would spin each other in the spinning recliner until one of us thought we would be sick {or until a parent stopped us- which was usually the case}. Her dad, who happens to also be my Godfather, would teach us about creating the best and most fertile compost, and show us how to take care of his Tilapia farm they had in their backyard. At times we drove each other nuts, but may God help the poor kid on the playground who ever tried to tease or make fun of my cousin…because I had her back. And she had mine.

We loved each other, played together, imagined fantastic adventures complete with time machine traveling and insect hospitals {remember that one Linds??!}. But it didn’t end there.

We watched each other grow up…endure heartbreak…become adults…finish school…fall in love…walk down the aisle…and welcome babies into the world. Lindsay is more to me than just a memory of my childhood. She is one of the few women who knew me when I had huge frizzy hair and a giant gap in between my two front teeth, and loved me anywayWe understand each others families’, each other’s frustrations, and what it’s like to be an older sister, wife and mother.

Lindsay,

I have watched you become this incredible, beautiful woman- and I count myself as blessed to have you in my life. Sometimes when I talk to you or see you, it’s hard to believe that you aren’t this tiny squeaky-voiced little girl anymore, and that you are this grown-up woman, happily married and almost a mom!! As I sat down to look through your pictures and make your video, I literally had tears streaming down my face because it was so emotional for me! I am actually finding it hard right now to even find the words that I really want to say. So, plainly put-  I love you. And I always will.  :-)

Don’t forget to watch the video!

And press “HQ” in the lower corner- I think it really helps.

**   Lindsay, I dare you not to cry…. **