Four Years Ago Today

Four years ago today, my mom's lilacs were bursting.

Four years ago today, the sheep pasture by my mom's house was full of lambs.

Four years ago today, my little sister had her first baby arrive in time for her birthday.

He came in March.

Just in time for May.

Four years ago today, my mom's house was full of infant diapers.

 Nipples were on the kitchen counter, and breast milk was in her freezer.  

Four years ago today, my mom and I took my Pug, Diesel, for a ride in the car.

We went to the bakery to get my sister a birthday cake 

and her favorite rolls.

Four years ago today, my mom had one of the worst experiences of her life.

She can barely get through the story if she attempts to talk about it.  

I'm SO THERE for you.

Four years ago today, my Pug, Diesel, sat on the center consul between my mom and I in the car.  He sneezed.  He huffed and he puffed...

and he lacquered the left side of my mom's face with dog snot.

I photographed the whole thing. 

Until she caught me.  I'm a survivor.

Until she see's these photos.  

Goodbye forever.

Four years ago today, I was drinking Diet Coke at The Red Lobster for my sister's birthday lunch.

She still had the glow only new mamma's possess.

She was tired.

She was lactating.

She was a working nurse.

All grown up.

With a baby boy.

33 years ago today, my mom came home with a new baby girl.  I was three years old and I was ticked.  As far as I was concerned, they could take the thing back to the hospital.  I bit her.  I sprayed Windex in her eyes.  My dad called Poison Control.  She's a survivor.

She's fluent in braille.

Just kidding.

Sort of.

She was a good play mate when we were kids.  She waited for me to get ready for school and walked with me, no matter how late I was.  She let me boss her around.  She ran with me up and down the snowy hills with our sled and she screamed while we flew down the slope.  She made cardboard houses with me.  She always won at Monopoly.  She made her Halloween candy last throughout the year.  She always let me eat half of her burrito from Taco Bell.  She loved kittens more than life itself.   We beat the snot out of each other.  We drew blood.  She tried to drown me in a swimming pool once.  I'm glad she's here.

Because if she wasn't, I wouldn't have a cool brother-in-law and 2 little nephews with kissable creases in their wittle wegs.

To be honest with you, she turned out much better than I did, and that's fine with me.  

Happy birthday, baby sister!  I love you.

"She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her" (Proverbs 3:15, ESV).