brother/sister LOVE

Growing up with sisters and no brothers I couldn't have understood the special bond a brother and sister could have. When Khloe was born and I knew my husband and I would have more children, I prayed Khloe would have a sister. I LOVE my sisters! I can't imagine my life without them. We never had sister competition and though I would say we never even fought my parents I am sure would beg to differ, bathroom time, sharing clothes, sharing the car etc... ok so we did have our share of screaming matches but the greater good FAR out weighs any of that so I guess I just block it out. As I got older the bond between my sisters and I also grew. Now we are all wives, mothers and sisters and our bond is even more important. We share in each others troubles, trials, miracles, successes and everything in between. We know longer live in the same house, or the same town, not even the same state at this point, but the love I have for my sisters has only gotten stronger and I wanted that for my daughter.

I never understood the love between a brother and sister until I started dating my husband. My husband is a middle child. Sandwiched between an older brother and a younger sister. He is 5 years younger than his brother but only a little over a year older than his sister. I remember going to his house with him when we had first started dating. He couldn't wait for me to meet his family , his friends and most importantly his sister. After meeting her I saw something I had never seen before. A true love a brother, sister love. They laughed at all the same jokes, even jokes that no one else laughed at, which then in the end made everyone laugh. They joked with each other, shared life with each other and really loved each other. How cool this was for me to see.

My husband had moved away from home at this point and his sister was still there, they wrote each other letters to stay in touch, how cool letters between a brother and sister. I remember on her wedding day how he felt. Not that he would ever stop loving her or protecting her but he was passing the torch to another man to take on that responsibility. Someone he had spent his whole life looking out for, now had someone else to do that. As a man he began shifting his responsibility away from is parents and sister towards starting his own family. Taking care of his wife who was someone else's daughter and sister. There was something lost or maybe just different there but it was not love.

To this day they still laugh at all the same jokes and instead of letters it's text messages. Her husband now provides for her and protects her but there are bonds that can not be broken, brother/sister bonds. This is what I see when I look at my children. They don't always get along or see eye to eye. Sometimes he is the annoying little brother and she is the mean older sister. I get glimpses though of something inside both of them. When they hug each other for no reason and say I love you. When he tells her she is beautiful without prompting and when she tells him he is fast and strong. The way even though they have there own rooms and beds, they sleep together. The way they laugh at each others jokes. Khloe drawing pictures of her and he brother playing, she's always holding flowers and he is always holding a sword. Isn't it cool this brother/sister love.

Life has changed again with us and we have added another baby and she is a sister to Khloe and Caleb the best of both worlds. While most of the time I wish I could freeze time, I do look forward to the love that grows in time. There is nothing like seeing your children love each other and watching their bonds form. They will grow and change but will never be broken.

The picture of Khloe and Caleb was taken Sunday after church. Khloe had been trying to win this Buzzlightyear potato head for Caleb for the last several weeks in Sunday school. Today her name was called she got the question right and won the toy for her brother! She also got a ring pop for him. It was a proud moment for my husband and I when we saw her thinking of him, looking out for him and loving him. She proudly showed him the toy she worked hard to win and he said with his wide smile,"Sissy is this for ME?!" Khloe, "My name was called, I got the question right and I won it for you." Ahhhh they melt me! I always say I am blessed beyond measure, my cup runs over, my heart is FULL!