Love Ya Like a Sister

I’ve always gotten along with my three sisters. Admittedly, there are childhood diary entries in purple crayon where I complain about how mean they are. For the most part, though, we’ve been a pretty happy bunch. From sports teams to church camp to family vacations, we have done a lot together. We’ve shared clothes. We’ve shared rooms. We’ve shared secrets, hopes, and disappointments. We’ve watched each other screw up (and sometimes encouraged it). We’ve saved each other’s butts when necessary. Those sisters of mine are absolute gems. 

The last few years, however, are the furthest I’ve ever felt from my childhood. Our lives look so different from those carefree days. We’ve birthed babies. We’ve lost babies. We’ve watched babies receive life-changing diagnoses. Some of us have received life-changing diagnoses. Some of us have switched careers, navigated unemployment, and left jobs to stay home.

Don’t get me wrong; life is not all bad. My point is just that life looks drastically different than it did when we were kids. That’s adulting, right? Yet our relationships still feel the same, perhaps even richer. Despite different parenting styles, belief systems, and locations, we seem to be better friends than ever. I’ve often wondered why. For me, I think it’s knowing that my sisters wholeheartedly accept me—perhaps out of obligation because, hey, we’re family. But there’s just this sense of no matter what happens, I have them and they have me. They will always love me, fully aware of my imperfections and brokenness. My sisters continue to teach me what real friendship is, and I’m so grateful to call them my family.

Of course a sister doesn’t necessarily need to be your biological sibling. Many of us can think of a friend who loves us in that way only a sister could. Someone who shows up at your house in their pajamas, holding your favorite beverage, and sits down to listen to you vent about how your toddler made you lose your dang mind 10 minutes earlier. Authentic friendships like this feed my soul in all the right ways, because girls’ nights are about more than dessert and blasting Cyndi Lauper.  

Being a sister and having a sister—biological or otherwise—is a true gift. Sometimes a crazy, inappropriate gift who steals your favorite sweater, but the best gift nonetheless.

Image may contain: 4 people, including Hillary Nicole Holden, Mariel Welcker and Nell Maren George, people smiling, people standing, closeup and indoor

Whitney
When Whitney fell in love with a handsome Texan, she just knew that someday they would call Texas home. Her three favorite things about San Antonio are the tacos, the family-friendly feel, and the school her children attend--Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children. Whitney is a former ninth grade English teacher and proud mama of two redheads nicknamed GingerSnap (daughter born in 2014) and GingerDude (son born in 2017). Her son is deaf and has bilateral cochlear implants. Sunshine Cottage provided all the tools needed to turn GingerDude into a little chatterbox and Whitney into the hearing loss/listening and spoken language advocate that she is. When she isn’t volunteering at Sunshine Cottage, Whitney spends her time serving in organizations at church, spreading awareness and encouragement on Instagram, and keeping the Weaver household in working order. She tries to make time each day to go for a run and her favorite thing to do on a Saturday is hike at a nearby state park with her family. Favorite Restaurant: Thai Dee Favorite Landmark: The Riverwalk Favorite San Antonio Tradition: Fiesta Decorations and Attire