Today I was driving past the Sandy Expo Center, and I saw a sign for the Home Show which is starting in two days. It made me think of my awesome sister Cindy, who is busily preparing to have a booth there. And then I thought about what an incredible person she is. And then I thought about my other sisters, and what incredible people they are. And I thought, "Man, I'm so lucky to have such amazing sisters."
My poor dear mother had five daughters in seven years. NOT on purpose I can promise you. And I'm sure it must have been so difficult for her when we were all small. But we sure are reaping the benefits now. I can't imagine what it must be like to NOT have a sister to call and ask random questions. Each of my sisters has an expertise in something, and if I need something, I'm sure that ONE of them will know.
My sisters are STRONG. No matter what they are up against, they find a way to conquer it. Cindy is starting a business--and everything is planned down to the last detail. She has spent her life doing things for free just out of the goodness of her heart. If you need something, she is THERE. She will drop everything--things that sometimes are a real stretch for her to drop--just to help you out. She's brilliant. Anything she tries, she can do. She was always the peacemaker in the family. The one that took me on "sister dates" when I was little, taking me to antique stores or driving down the Avenues just to look at architecture. She is an absolute expert at thinking outside of the box, and can tackle any problem and solve it with a completely unorthodox and brilliant solution. When I have a question, she's the first one I call. She's my human Google. She calls my baby a "mop-headed wildebeast" and she's totally dead on. I don't know what I would do without her. I watch what she is doing with this business--how she finds a way to make BIG things happen--and I'm just utterly amazed. One day she thought, "Hey, we should make a big playground in West Jordan." And then SHE DID IT. She and Jen teamed up and made the Wild West Jordan playground happen. Who DOES that? She knows how to make an idea a reality, and when she does it, she does it big.
Jen is the oldest. I think that she had the most influence on me to attend college. She just WENT. Even though mom's a beautician/housewife, and Dad is a carpenter, and money was always tight--she didn't let that stop her. She taught me that anyone can go to college if they want to. She went to BYU and got her education. She went on a mission, she married in the temple. She set a pattern that I instictively followed. She now works for a congressman and has the really amazing important job that she earned with volunteer hours, a talent for writing, and sheer brilliance. I am totally in awe of what she can acheive. And yet--she is so NORMAL. Sometimes I am so shocked when she googles over my baby or offers to babysit. She's not all snooty and self-important. She's just doing what she knows is right. I know for a fact that if she hadn't been there, my own life wouldn't have been the same. I wouldn't have known what I could achieve, if I hadn't seen her do it first. She is the ultimate oldest sister--she set an example worth of emulation, and yet never shoved it down your throat. She just DID IT.
Aundi is the third sister. I don't even know how to express what I feel about her. She is the one who doesn't look back. She doesn't wish and waste her life away. She is grateful for everything she has. She takes what she has, and she LOVES IT. And because she loves it, it loves her back. She has a wonderful life. Although sometimes her body is weak and betrays her, sometimes I think she is the strongest of us all. And she can talk your ear off. I'm not kidding. She says things with such conviction that you KNOW she is absolutely right. When I was a kid I used to repeat everything she said as gospel truth. Eh, who am I kidding? I STILL DO. She is so beautiful. She helps me with my ballroom team at school, and she loves every second of it. Aundi is the one who taught me about style, doing your hair, dressing up cute, and how to move. I watched her dance, and wondered if I could ever be as good. I never was, but I sure tried! And she sure helped me. I used to watch her get ready in the morning, and I'd wish I could be as pretty as her. And she's still just a stylin' now as she was then. Only--she's not pretentious like a lot of stylish people can be. She is a genuinely happy person. She doesn't brag. She is just HAPPY.
And then, of course, there's Nicki. Only 13 months separate us. We were not so close as kids, but things changed a lot when we grew up. Nicki was that sister that watched over me--winced at every dumb thing I said (which was A LOT) and silently cheered for every victory. She was SO COOL. Everyone thought she was cool. She's so smart, but she has the biggest heart. She feels things very keenly, and cares very deeply for the people she loves. She is absolutely gorgeous. The only one who got Mom's eyes, the lucky thing. She's the most educated, with a very difficult degree and an awesome job. But she isn't absorbed by these things. She knows what is important. She was there for me whenever I needed her when my baby was born. She'd had her third only 18 hours after me, and when I had a question, she was there--guiding me like she always has.
Of course--none of these amazing sisters of mine would be so amazing without one heck of a Mom. I think what I love most about my Mom is that she isn't afraid to be different, to do things different. She had a good father, but he was of that disposition that never says "I love you. I'm proud of you." Instead of carrying on that tradition, she broke it. She stepped away and said, "Not for my kids." We heard it every day. But she wasn't some gushy "you're so perfect" mom either. She'd tell you bluntly to your face what's wrong with you. Not in a mean way--but she knew she had to tell you or no one else would. She didn't sugar coat it or make us think we were all perfect and entitled. She loved us--and she DIDN'T TAKE ANY CRAP. I LOVE that. I like to think I've inherited a little of it. My mother is a strong woman. She taught all of us to be strong. It's ok to be different. It's ok to step outside the comfort zone. It's ok to speak your mind. Its ok to argue your case--but do so respectfully or you're DONE. She is always there to help me when I need it. It must have been so hard for her--living here in Utah away from her family, with no mother or sister to help her with her small children. She hasn't forgotten. And when I or my sisters need her--SHE'S THERE.
I feel bad not to mention my Dad--whom I love just as dearly. But this post is for the strong women of my family who have helped shape who I am. I've never really told any of my sisters how I feel about them--funny that its so much easier to do it this way! Anyway, as the youngest of five, with four such incredible sisters before me, it's hard to measure up. But somehow, we are never competitive with each other. We are genuinely happy for the good things, and we sorrow for the bad things. How could anyone fail with such amazing examples? How lucky I am to be the youngest--to have four sisters go through the world first and show me how it's done. I thank my Heavenly Father for them, and for my wonderful mother!
My poor dear mother had five daughters in seven years. NOT on purpose I can promise you. And I'm sure it must have been so difficult for her when we were all small. But we sure are reaping the benefits now. I can't imagine what it must be like to NOT have a sister to call and ask random questions. Each of my sisters has an expertise in something, and if I need something, I'm sure that ONE of them will know.
My sisters are STRONG. No matter what they are up against, they find a way to conquer it. Cindy is starting a business--and everything is planned down to the last detail. She has spent her life doing things for free just out of the goodness of her heart. If you need something, she is THERE. She will drop everything--things that sometimes are a real stretch for her to drop--just to help you out. She's brilliant. Anything she tries, she can do. She was always the peacemaker in the family. The one that took me on "sister dates" when I was little, taking me to antique stores or driving down the Avenues just to look at architecture. She is an absolute expert at thinking outside of the box, and can tackle any problem and solve it with a completely unorthodox and brilliant solution. When I have a question, she's the first one I call. She's my human Google. She calls my baby a "mop-headed wildebeast" and she's totally dead on. I don't know what I would do without her. I watch what she is doing with this business--how she finds a way to make BIG things happen--and I'm just utterly amazed. One day she thought, "Hey, we should make a big playground in West Jordan." And then SHE DID IT. She and Jen teamed up and made the Wild West Jordan playground happen. Who DOES that? She knows how to make an idea a reality, and when she does it, she does it big.
Jen is the oldest. I think that she had the most influence on me to attend college. She just WENT. Even though mom's a beautician/housewife, and Dad is a carpenter, and money was always tight--she didn't let that stop her. She taught me that anyone can go to college if they want to. She went to BYU and got her education. She went on a mission, she married in the temple. She set a pattern that I instictively followed. She now works for a congressman and has the really amazing important job that she earned with volunteer hours, a talent for writing, and sheer brilliance. I am totally in awe of what she can acheive. And yet--she is so NORMAL. Sometimes I am so shocked when she googles over my baby or offers to babysit. She's not all snooty and self-important. She's just doing what she knows is right. I know for a fact that if she hadn't been there, my own life wouldn't have been the same. I wouldn't have known what I could achieve, if I hadn't seen her do it first. She is the ultimate oldest sister--she set an example worth of emulation, and yet never shoved it down your throat. She just DID IT.
Aundi is the third sister. I don't even know how to express what I feel about her. She is the one who doesn't look back. She doesn't wish and waste her life away. She is grateful for everything she has. She takes what she has, and she LOVES IT. And because she loves it, it loves her back. She has a wonderful life. Although sometimes her body is weak and betrays her, sometimes I think she is the strongest of us all. And she can talk your ear off. I'm not kidding. She says things with such conviction that you KNOW she is absolutely right. When I was a kid I used to repeat everything she said as gospel truth. Eh, who am I kidding? I STILL DO. She is so beautiful. She helps me with my ballroom team at school, and she loves every second of it. Aundi is the one who taught me about style, doing your hair, dressing up cute, and how to move. I watched her dance, and wondered if I could ever be as good. I never was, but I sure tried! And she sure helped me. I used to watch her get ready in the morning, and I'd wish I could be as pretty as her. And she's still just a stylin' now as she was then. Only--she's not pretentious like a lot of stylish people can be. She is a genuinely happy person. She doesn't brag. She is just HAPPY.
And then, of course, there's Nicki. Only 13 months separate us. We were not so close as kids, but things changed a lot when we grew up. Nicki was that sister that watched over me--winced at every dumb thing I said (which was A LOT) and silently cheered for every victory. She was SO COOL. Everyone thought she was cool. She's so smart, but she has the biggest heart. She feels things very keenly, and cares very deeply for the people she loves. She is absolutely gorgeous. The only one who got Mom's eyes, the lucky thing. She's the most educated, with a very difficult degree and an awesome job. But she isn't absorbed by these things. She knows what is important. She was there for me whenever I needed her when my baby was born. She'd had her third only 18 hours after me, and when I had a question, she was there--guiding me like she always has.
Of course--none of these amazing sisters of mine would be so amazing without one heck of a Mom. I think what I love most about my Mom is that she isn't afraid to be different, to do things different. She had a good father, but he was of that disposition that never says "I love you. I'm proud of you." Instead of carrying on that tradition, she broke it. She stepped away and said, "Not for my kids." We heard it every day. But she wasn't some gushy "you're so perfect" mom either. She'd tell you bluntly to your face what's wrong with you. Not in a mean way--but she knew she had to tell you or no one else would. She didn't sugar coat it or make us think we were all perfect and entitled. She loved us--and she DIDN'T TAKE ANY CRAP. I LOVE that. I like to think I've inherited a little of it. My mother is a strong woman. She taught all of us to be strong. It's ok to be different. It's ok to step outside the comfort zone. It's ok to speak your mind. Its ok to argue your case--but do so respectfully or you're DONE. She is always there to help me when I need it. It must have been so hard for her--living here in Utah away from her family, with no mother or sister to help her with her small children. She hasn't forgotten. And when I or my sisters need her--SHE'S THERE.
I feel bad not to mention my Dad--whom I love just as dearly. But this post is for the strong women of my family who have helped shape who I am. I've never really told any of my sisters how I feel about them--funny that its so much easier to do it this way! Anyway, as the youngest of five, with four such incredible sisters before me, it's hard to measure up. But somehow, we are never competitive with each other. We are genuinely happy for the good things, and we sorrow for the bad things. How could anyone fail with such amazing examples? How lucky I am to be the youngest--to have four sisters go through the world first and show me how it's done. I thank my Heavenly Father for them, and for my wonderful mother!
This family picture was taken around 1988. Yikes!
6 comments:
Confession: your sisters sometimes when I was growing up really inttimidated me. But now I think they are really awesome. LOVE strong women. Have to be strong
You are all awesome women.
Thanks Meg. It's interesting to be where we are and look back to figure out how we got here. Despite our differences we are very lucky to all have each other.
Yeah, your sisters are pretty well legend as far as I am concerned. And I swear there was no less than 10 hot curling irons in the bathroom at your house at ALL TIMES. I don't think I ever came out of that bathroom without a burn somewhere on me. (I think that picture proves my point.) Awesome post.
Love the 80's pic! That was a sweet post, totally loved it. Sisters are the best, huh? And you definitely also fit the title of Strong Woman. Love ya Meg!
You made me cry! I am also so thankful for my sisters. I also agree that Aundi is the strongest because of her struggles with seizures.
All that's gone on to help me FINALLY dare to launch my business has just confirmed to me how lucky I am to have so many people in my life who love me and cheer for me. Everyone from sisters to brothers-in-law to friends offered to help me with my business in any way they could. It has meant so much to me to see everyone rally to help me.
I am VERY proud of the kind of Mom, wife and teacher you are. You really CARE about the kids and giving them the best learning experiences you can. You're a pretty good out-of-the-box thinker yourself!
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