When my Mom recounts my first day of kindergarten, you can tell that it was that day that she became aware of the four year difference between my sister Jessica and I. As I boarded the school bus, my sister screamed, wanting to go too and to be as big as her big sister got to be. It would be a lie to say that I didn't love being the first kid in my family. Everything was special and new as I was the first one to cross the thresholds into new experiences. As young adults, this has shifted as my sister was married the summer before my wedding and is the mother of two amazing little kids, my nephew Justin and my niece Maddie. As adults, she has experienced more than I have at this stage of my life and she faces motherhood and being an army wife with a compassion and grace that I look up to. In many ways, we have switched places and while there were things about my old spot that were great, I am, for the first time experiencing what it means to be the sister who, when I jump into the great journey of having children of my own, will have someone there to show me the ropes- to bring me with her and enjoy the ride on the school bus together for the first time in our lives.
We took photographs throughout the week of our family vacation and since Matt and Jessica were celebrating their second wedding anniversary, we marked their love for one another with a photo shoot at the beautiful Watkins Glen State Park near our family lake house. With their first anniversary marked by tragedy and Matt's deployment scheduled for 2011, Jessica and Matt reminded us all to take a moment and remember love. The day we are given is the only one we are guaranteed and they, with their beautiful family, seized it.
Jess & Matt- What else can I say but I love you guys? Can't wait until Christmas to see you and the kids again!
1 comment:
Oh my goodness, I was absolutely in tears reading this, in fact, still am a little sniffly.....Jessica reminds me so much of you, and your words about her make me think of the friendship/sisterhood that my girls will have some day, something I never experienced...and Justin looks so much like his Daddy, and Maddie so much like her mama, it's just so sweet to see! Just beautiful, sweet Tara.
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