Even though we are all grown now and I am super close to both of my sisters, I finally got that little sister that I always wanted with Little Jen.
My sis, Jen, and I are five years a part — which is like a lifetime when you are a kid. Growing up, she was that really cool girl down the hall — the girl I looked up to — the girl I so wanted to beat at basketball one day. She set the bar for me — I wanted to do everything she did and more.
I remember one day playing basketball in the driveway with her and all I wanted to do was score on her. I was probably 8 or 10 and she would tickle me every time I went to shoot it. I was so mad at her — yet laughing the whole time.
Jen and my other sis, Nik, were besties all growing up. For the most part I was just the annoying little sister. I always wanted to be cool and do the things they were doing, but let’s be honest, I did all the dumb little sister things like tell on them (especially one night when they snuck out). I was so jealous of them — and their closeness — I wanted a sister to be super close with and share all the things with.
Funny how childhood works, when Jen went away to college I swooped in and snatched up Nik — who finally gave me the time of day. I’d like to think it was because I was finally older and cool enough then, but really it probably was because Jen was gone and well, Nik didn’t have anyone else.
Anyway, life kept moving forward, Jen went to college and then a few years later I did. When I came back home one summer — it felt like all my childhood dreams had come true; I got to hang with Jen all summer long.
And it was an instant connection. This girl that lived down the hall from me that I wanted to be exactly like growing up — quickly became my favorite person. We laughed our heads off, danced our booties off and shared secrets and stories.
Don’t get me wrong — she also dealt with me in my messy college stage — and wasn’t afraid to show her love for me by telling me I was an idiot — and guiding me to better decisions for the future. But she loved me — her little sis — every hot mess part of me — and literally has been by my side every single step of my life since.
We went through heartbreaks together, she even let me move in with her a few — that’s true love if you know my messy self. She was there for me on what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life — and also there for me when the journey came to a close. She celebrated the birth of my babies with me — and so many of their adventures since. She has been there through every overwhelming moment of my life and every joyful moment.
And all I ever wanted for her was her joy — her true happily ever after.
Then one day she mentioned this girl at work. Jen (Little Jen). When she even said her name, it was different. At that time, they were years apart from being together — but it was clear from the beginning that this girl was the one. If we were hanging out with friends and Little Jen was coming — the smile on my Jen’s face was just … different.
And it didn’t take me long to figure out why my Jen was so in love with this girl — our Little Jen. She is a blast. She brings the fun — yet sensibility, the high knees dancing, the fridge cleaning out, the laughter and the love.
I waited for life to shake out around them — for God to pave this path finally bringing them together as one. And when it did happen, it was like they had been together forever. Lil Jen was that missing puzzle piece that completed the puzzle of life for my sis.
But still, there were rules and laws – judgements and opinions — and I honestly didn’t know if I would ever get to see my sis get married. I mean, I knew she had found the one, but I didn’t know if we would ever get to celebrate her and her bride the way that they deserved.
Last weekend, on the sand in Orange Beach, Alabama – during the start of a perfect sunset, with family and friends gathered all around, I watched as my sister said “I do” to the love of her life.
Afterward, I made a speech – similar to this — (ok, most of this came from it) — where I thanked Little Jen for loving my big sis — for making her the happiest I have ever seen her in life — for filling her cup up and keeping it full. And I gave a shout out to my Jen, one of my best friends — for fighting for the one true one — for knowing who she is and being strong enough (and patient enough) to follow her heart to the person that completes her.
And I thanked God for not only making that very day possible – but for making it so full of love, support and acceptance from family and friends.
Even though we are all grown now and I am super close to both of my sisters, I finally got that little sister that I always wanted with Little Jen. I reminded her that night that if Jen and Nik ever left us out, that I would always be there to keep her company. And, if that didn’t work, I was already a pro at telling on them.
Sarah (Pitson) Shrader was born and raised in Lima. She is a Lima Central Catholic and Tiffin University graduate. Sarah is a full-time working mama who enjoys writing about her somewhat crazy, always adventurous life as a mother. She lives in Bath Township with her daughters and writing inspirations, Maylie and Reagan.
