Barefoot

  I will just start this off by saying I have an amazing big sister.
  Becky is about 6 years older than me, which is a sizeable gap. It was always very easy to look up to her.

   We didn't always get along.. I would get into her stuff, and unplug her alarm clock, draw hearts in her yearbook over her friends that I had a ridiculously huge crush on. (Yes, I am finally owning up to that even though, duh, everyone knew I did it.)

  Was I just a brat? Probably. I honestly don't remember any 'bad' things she did to me. According to Manoah, one time mom told her to apologize to me. When mom walked out Becky said, "I'm sorry you're so stupid."
  It makes a pretty funny sibling rivalry story even though I don't remember it.

  Even though we could get on each other's last nerve I always idolized my big sister. She had so many friends and she wore the coolest clothes. She would even let me borrow her t-shirts sometimes, because what else are sisters for?

  When Becky moved to Norman to go to the University of Oklahoma we went from seeing each other daily to just holidays and summer time.

   One summer day when she was home it started pouring rain. Becky and I took off our shoes and ran outside to play in the yard. It was a beautiful and warm so we decided to take a walk. We ditched our shoes on the porch and started off barefoot down the road. We walked around our neighborhood at first. Lost in conversation we expanded our neighborhood hike to the main road. We walked as far as the sidewalk would take us. When we reached the end we turned around to trek back home.

   A man in a truck pulled over and offered to give us a ride. I'm sure he thought we were two poor girls stuck in the rain. We thanked him and told him we were fine, because we were. Our time that we spent together had become something rare and rich. I wanted to soak up Becky's company as much as I could before she left again.
  I don't remember the conversation we had I just remember the feeling of fun, love, and a deep friendship that was building between us.

  This memory came back to me as I was driving home today after visiting Becky and her babies. I love living close enough so that I can see her any time I want. I love that our kiddos are close in age. Shamblin loves Demma and he talks about her constantly.

  I am insanely blessed with a sister who radiates love and kindness from her soul. A soul that belongs to God.
  To this day I still strive to be like my older sister. I thank God for walking with us, barefoot, in the rain that summer day. He is cultivating an unbreakable bond and it is better than any gift I could ask for.