Little Hugs -

I remember being little and fighting over something or other with my sister. I was the typical little rebel thing, NOT going to be nice back to my sister, who was clearly in the wrong. Mama would have us apologize and then hug to make up. One of three things usually happened: A. I refused and got spanked. B. I hugged her without meaning it and she knew it. C. I would hug her and not mean it, and before I knew it, I was sorry. ;) We didn't fight that often, but most of it was probably my fault. maybe. I'm not taking the blame for some of it. Hahahaha.

I can still remember a lot of those hugs, when I was little, and my cheek would be pressed against her shoulder and we would say "I love you". :) There was sweetness in knowing that we were always sisters, ready to back each other up in a crowded room. One look, one arched eyebrow, one move, we were on the other side as quick as we could to divert any "unwanted conversation" to some more .... less anti-homeschooling topic. ;)

Kimberly stood up for me in tennis, when I got bullied by the other players ... hey, it wasn't that sad, I mean, I wasn't very good, and I was small, so the other people got frustrated. But I tried, and I always had Kimberly. 45-0. nice. it got old fast. Water breaks were great in 110 degree weather. :) Kimberly always swam better, played better, she could sew and embroider and had neat-perfect penmanship, she could actually TAN, she could draw things that looked alive (and not like marshmallows and sticks) and play piano better, she never got in quite as much trouble as I did, and somehow her hair was less frizzed into a brushed pyramid than mine. Ohhh the jealousy. ;) hahah.

I took small gleeful comfort that I could: Climb trees better, fit in smaller spaces, and had red hair. And that kind of summed it up. Hahahaha. Needless to say, we fought but I loved and adored my sister. And I still do.

We still give little hugs, and I love every minute of it. We share that sweetness and special bond of sisters, even though we are pretty different now. She's like this demure Scottish lass, and I'm this outgoing talkative butterfly. haha. She's quiet sometimes, and I'm quiet sometimes. She's talkative when she wants to be, and I can (obviously) chatter my head off.

She has loved Jesus since she was 5, and it took me until I was 11 to love Him.

We both love Him with deep passion, and wait on Him for His glory to be revealed in our lives, it's not easy, and although we try, we don't always wear His name with glory.

But we share this: We are both desperate for God. We ache and long and pray with a passionate plea for His glory in our mountains and valleys more than we have in years, we dream and we think about what God can do, what God will do.

.... and we wait. We wait together. For the glory of God ....

on the day of the 24th year of your birth, dearest sister,

I give you many little hugs from me.

I love you, Kimberly. I always will. No matter what.

With love from your little sister,

~ Jean Marie ~

~ Psalm 116: 1-2, 4-9 ~

"I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

.... I found trouble and sorrow.

Then I called upon the name of the Lord; "O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!".

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.

The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living."