Proud is an Understatement

Many of you know, I'm the oldest of EIGHT children. When I reflect back on the time of each new addition to our family, there is a similar memory for each birth. It went something like this: At the appropriate time, Dad would take Mom to the Hospital leaving me and whatever additions had come at home. In the earlier years, there was a relative there to watch us, in the later years, I was the one that watched. After what seemed like an eternity, due solely to my own excitement, He'd call to tell me that Mom had the baby. My first question everytime would be "What is it?" (My parents never wanted to know the gender before the moment of delivery) My Dad would answer my question with one of his own, "Well, what do you want it to be?" to which EVERY TIME, I would answer with "A GIRL!"
You'd think he would have learned not to go about this routine because every time he'd ask me the question he KNEW what I was going to say, which would only make me more disapointed when he would proceed to answer my original question with the news that I had yet another brother. Of course I got over it quickly and love all my brothers, but there would always be a part of me that desperately wanted a sister. I even remember praying for a sister every night for as long as I could remember!

Well, finally after going about this routine and conversation with my Dad SIX differnt times, he was finally able to answer my question with the affirmative, He was bringing me home a sister!!!
I could go on and on about how lucky I thought I was because I got to help raise her while my Mom started with night classes at BYU just days after Chandra was born, and because she slept with me pretty much every night until I left on my mission (which, by the way, was VERY hard to get used to sleeping by myself), and because I had a sister to take with me on dates, to other babysitting jobs, to play with my friends, she basically never left my side...and I'm not quite sure if, as she got older, it was because she wanted to be with me or more because I wouldn't give her any other option!

Anyhow, the bottom line is that I STILL consider myself lucky to have a sister like her! Somehow we ended up with SIX brothers and so we girls have had to stick together! I'm grateful for her friendship and for her honesty when she would quickly let me know that her 'genetic reproduction analysis' would NOT create good looking children with whoever it was I was dating...and to move on. (Thanks for approving of Gary, Channy!)
Many of you may have heard it announced last week about the National Letter of Intent Day...which then would have been followed by the news that some well known, highly recruited high school football or basketball player signed with a college/university in your area. Well, it just so happens to be a day for ALL soon to be freshman college athletes not just male football or basketball players! It is the first eligable day that senior athletes can sign and commit to attend a specific college. One of which was my very own SISTER! Chandra plays on a competition league and of the 21 girls on her team, 18 committed with scholarships to various colleges/universities. It was a fun day! Her whole team got together to all sign their letters of intent at the same time! We of course went to watch, support, and of course, EAT! Chandra is going to UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY! Go Aggies! Read more about it here. Needless to say, I'm PROUD of you sissy! Even though you don't read my blog and will probably never, ever see this. And I still love you even though you have the better legs AND are moving way too far away from me to go play soccer!
On a quick side note, I'll have it be known that Chandra's jersey number (33) came from ME! Yes, she won't admit it so don't listen to her. You see, it all actually started with my BIRTH. I was born at 3:33. My Dad's basketball number was 33 (not sure if it was BECAUSE of that or not) but I've always liked the numbers 3 and 33 because of those two reasons...and I'm pretty sure that Chandra admires me SO much that she wanted to use that same number so she could think about me during her soccer games! She's even taking that jersey number up with her to Utah State! Thanks Girly! Love you too!