Cheers to sisterhood!

I went to my very good friend and officemate Mommy Terry's (all of us at the office is already used to calling her that. Ü) house today for the celebration of her daughter Stephenie's 11th birthday. I'm glad she liked my gift for her. I missed Mommy Terry so much! She is actually on a leave-of-absence from work because she is in the first trimester of a "difficult" pregnancy. She lost twin boys, David and Daniel, who were born prematurely last year so she - with the help of her doctors and family - is making sure that she gets all the care she needs while pregnant. Stephenie has been asking for a sibling for some time now so I am very happy that their prayers were answered again. I am praying and hoping that Mommy Terry's pregnancy goes well this time.

Mommy Terry says Steph is like a mini-me because whenever I tell her stories of my childhood she would quip that Steph has also done something similar, and vice versa. I also do see a bit of myself in her and it feels nice to know that I have made an impression on someone so young. I like Steph so much and hope that she will be as good mannered as she is right now when she blossoms to be a lady. Her parents did a very good job in raising her, and I hope I do the same to my future kids.

In the couple of years I have known her I have seen how close Mommy Terry is with her sisters and it is something I would want to emulate for me and my sister Kyla. Because of the thirteen years gap in our ages, our interests differ and sometimes it is difficult to find a common ground. But I do love her very much and miss her when I am here at the apartment. I guess I just have to exert a little bit more effort, yes? What do you and your siblings do for fun?

I treat Mommy Terry as the big sister I never had (as I am the eldest of three). She's just such a very good friend and she listened to me and understood back when  no one else seemed to be able to. I am just so thankful I had the privilege to meet her and to be considered as her friend. I have said this before and would just want to reiterate, friends are the best!

This was sent to me via email three years ago and I remember being touched by it. Three years on and the message still holds true:

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter. "Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do."

  

"What a funny piece of advice!", the young woman thought. "Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!" But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. 

  

As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life. After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned: 

 THIS SAYS IT All- 

Time passes. 

Life happens. 

Distance separates. 

Children grow up. 

Jobs come and go. 

Love waxes and wanes. 

Men don't do what they're supposed to do. 

Hearts break. 

Parents die. 

Colleagues forget favors. 

Careers end.   

BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. 

  

A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you... Or come in and carry you out. 

  

Girl friends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life! The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. 

  

When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still. 

I hope you got inspired as well, and appreciate your Sisters a little bit more. Cheers to sisterhood!

*This is my 28th of 30 posts for the 30-Day Blog Challenge.