My Sister's Smile

"Where your treasure lies, there will your heart also be" 

Matthew 6:21

Ahhhhhhhhhh, how sweet it is to have visitors! The most recent of my Western bound pilgrims was my dearest little sister Tina! What a gift it was to have her near!! Nothing beats those fast food binge fests, window shopping strolls, and cozy movie nights that one finds in a sister. So as a little glimpse of our time together I provide a brief letter to my beloved sweet tea Tina, and a kind of quirky composition of our 10 days together. Thank you for your visit my dearest! 

Teeeee-nahhhhh!

It was such a joy to have you here in California! It would be an understatement to say that miss you :) 

What I really enjoyed about your visit was that we didn’t try to make the days grandeur or too touristy. Having you share in my daily life here reminded me of the moments in our life where I was able to enjoy and cherish the simplicity of having you as my sister. What a spectrum this encompasses! The sugar-water tea parties that we use to hold in mom’s closet, the hours of bad sitcoms like Make it Or Break, our Special Olympics & YMCA stretch, celebrating one another’s achievements, sharing in our daily crosses….. each of these moments have somehow deepened and strengthened the eternal bond that we will always share. It’s clear to see that these trivial and defining turns in our lives have allowed us to experience a true adventure!

It would be such a mistake to say that it was mere coincidence that out of all the souls ever created, God chose YOU to be my sister! You are such a treasure my dearest Tina! It is truly in your love, in your smile, and in your mercy that I have come to see myself with greater clarity and remind myself of who I want to be for others. Especially now when there are so many new things on the horizon, I will use our beautiful memories together as guiding stars.

Each time I see you Tina, I am reminded of my beautiful baby sister who I would wake up to in the morning. What a true blessing it would be to keep this familiarity, peace, and childlike joy in our relationship with one another. I hope to always be there for you! Thank you for all that you have given me!

May peace always be with you!

May joy and excitement fill your life!

May God’s love wrap and protect your heart!

My dearest Tina, my best friend, I love you.  

-Teresa :)