graduation weekend in santa barbara

Two weekends ago we celebrated the most recent Westmont alumnus in my family.

Pride is an understatement when it comes to describing how I feel about Kelsey graduating. I love the mess out of that girl and for a zillion reasons that I don't know how to articulate. I've realized as I've gotten older how much I treasure my two younger sisters as friends as well as role models -- birth order not really seeming as indicative of who is the wisest/most knowledgeable about things. Kelsey has become like an older sister to me over the years and I am so proud of what she has done at Westmont: the friendships she has made, the people she has touched with her smile and laugh, and the positivity and kindness that guides the way she lives her life.

And I sat next to Libby, my youngest sister, as we watched Kelsey graduate. And I'm so proud of her too -- making it through her first year of college and the friends she made, the choir she joined, the dorm life she participated in, the major she has embraced and taken on as her own, and the ways she is becoming independent and more confident.

I came away from the weekend thankful for two of the biggest gifts in my life -- my sisters. Words don't do justice to what the two of them mean to me.

Congrats to you, Kbakes!

easter selfies

these two.

i'm really, really, REALLY glad we're related.

just some sister wedding dreaming

this weekend was filled with everything wedding. and through it all i felt a mix of nostalgia and excitement as i think about my sister's weddings - some day in the future. i thought about what it will be like to put on a foofy white dress, how i'll cry as i watch my dad walk libby and kelsey down the ailse, what i'll write in my toast to my sisters, how beautiful my mom will look as she helps us get ready, which songs i will make sure we dance to, what i'll say to my dad before he walks me down the aisle, what i'll say to my sisters before they say "i do". i can't wait to see kels's eyes sparkle and libby's smile shine against her freckles as they see whoever it is at the end of the aisle. i am eager to meet whoever it is that will be the source of months of stories and dating adventures and long phone calls and midnight heart-to-hearts. i am excited to meet a new addition to our family - someone who will adore my sisters for the unique and special persons that they are.

i miss these girls like crazy this summer. i miss the way they laugh and make me laugh. i miss the way they smile and annoy each other and bother my parents. i miss our dance parties when we're supposed to be washing dishes and our drives to get frozen yogurt after dinner. i miss going to bed before them and listening to them getting ready in the bathroom and [rudely] awakening me while i drift off to sleep. i miss the way kelsey's room is always a mess and libby's alarm has to go off 5 times before she makes her entrance into the kitchen in the morning.

i'm so grateful God gave me two beautiful sisters. and i hope and dream that one day i'll be a part of their special wedding day.

but until then, we've got lots of living and laughing and learning to do together -- and that is something to be grateful for. 

kelsey visits!

we had a great weekend.

and i also learned not to rush. this was what i looked like throughout the weekend many times - trying to walk faster to the car, get to the commuter rail with at least 10 minutes to spare, etc. and kels was always a few steps behind me rolling her eyes and saying "will walking a little faster make THAT much of a difference? no. so slow down"

so i need to continue to learn how to slow down and to enjoy those brief walks between here and there because there's a lot of beauty along those journeys -- a quite literal example when we got lost in boston and happened upon some beautiful ponds (part of an environmental preservation project). i hate getting lost. unfortunately, when you are living in the boston area you WILL get lost: that is inevitable. however, getting lost in this instance led to a beautiful walk, a lovely chat with a sweet (and handsome might i add) man who let us use a restroom nearby, and a new place now visited in boston. good times. i now want to run the half marathon there!

just some of the good times and wonderful things kels and i did together this weekend.
and some of the things i learned as well :)

she's 19 today

she's still just as beautiful as last year, still funnier than heck, has a huge heart, and is my favorite 19 year old. happy, happy birthday to my gorgeous, wonderful, talented, smart, funny, wise, loving, and special sister Kelsey Lynne!!

[sweet] sixteen

[our attempt at touching the golden gate...not so successful.

but in any case, isn't she cute?!?!]

my baby sister turned 16 this past sunday.

crazy.

the only thing i remember about her being born was that when my dad took kels and i to the hospital to meet her and see my mom, my dad accidentally ran over my toe when he was opening the door. therefore, i received more attention than the new baby or my mom as nurses helped me and my wound :)

there are many special things about libby. she is kind, loving, sensitive, caring, funny, has a huge smile & heart, and has a beautiful voice, among many others. i was really bummed to have missed her debut in her high school's production of "Hello Dolly!", but got to see her perform a few times since i've been home and it is SO fun to see her up on stage. she has also been helping leading worship for youth group which is exciting.

i thought about libby a lot while i was in central america because there were panaderias, or little bread stores, on many corners throughout the towns. libby LOVES bread and i thought she would be in heaven with all the different kinds of sweet breads that abounded every where i went. i told this to my host family and since i've talked to them, they keep telling me how they think about libby and want her to visit them and enjoy the panaderias :)

i love this girl a whole bunch and am so blessed to be able to be apart of her 16th birthday celebration!

happy birthday libs!! i love you dearly and am so proud of you!!