It’s hard to believe, but you graduate from high school on Friday. I can still remember the day mom and dad told Billy and I that we were going to have a little sister. I can still remember the day you were born. I can still remember the day you graduated from preschool.

You absolutely made our family complete, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.

From a young age, you have always been selfless. You had no problem sharing, and that hasn’t changed one bit. We shared a room until Billy moved out, and even though I sometimes didn’t like sharing a room, you never complained. You even had the idea to disassemble our bunk beds so we could push them together and make one big bed for us.

We loved to play school together, and you were always content to let me be the teacher. I hope I have taught you valuable lessons outside of our make-believe classroom. I at least hope you have learned from my mistakes 😉

If I could describe you in five words, I would say you are faithful, intelligent, sweet, happy, and hilarious. Your faith in God inspires me. Your intelligence and dedication to learning is a beautiful thing to witness. You are sweet to everyone you meet. You’re one of the happiest people I know, and also the person I laugh with the most.

You have always been athletic, instrumentally talented, social, and hardworking.

You may or may not know this, but you have helped me through some pretty rough patches in my life. I have always wanted to be the best version of myself because I know you have looked up to me. Now that you’re almost 18, we can talk about anything, and you have been such a source of encouragement and love to me in the ups and downs of life.

Watching you go through hard times has absolutely broken my heart, but I know you’ve become stronger through it all. I wish I could take away the pain and fear you felt when you had to have an emergency appendectomy. I wish you never had to experience harsh words from people when you didn’t deserve it. What’s amazing to me is that you’ve never lost your spark, your faith, your happiness. I hope you never do.

I have watched you grow up before my eyes. Remember the time you got your first armpit hair and I was so excited? Sorry about that 🙂

You have always been beautiful, inside and out. You are a wonderful example to many in the way that you live your life for Christ.

As you graduate, I want you to know that I am praying for you. Your future is bright, Hannah banana. I pray you will always keep God first, and that you will remember how much you are loved.

Love,
Sissy