It's really fun to call people just by 1 letter. Like "P" for Perris, my friend, "B" or Bethany, and then sister Lyndsey, "D". You would see that D doesn't match Lyndsey, but let me explain. Sweet youngest sister, Katie, when a wee lass, would say something that sounded like "Dinsdee" for Lyndsey. This soon turned into "DD" which has evolved into just "D".
She (Lyndsey) is a really nice girl. And she's a babe (see above and below). In fact, "nice" isn't even close. You see, she left to be a missionary in California last week, and we're all already missing her. This tenderness has brought a load of memories and reminiscing about the D. I wasn't the best older sister. We are 6 years apart (although nowadays we are often asked if we are twins, and when we say there are 6 years between us the next question is always "Who's older?" Oh well, I'll take being 6 years younger for the rest of my life), and I was, I must say, relentless in my teasing. I have apologized repeatedly in recent years.
Example A: We were home alone one day and I was probably 12 or 13, making Lynds about 6 or 7, and I (in my dramatics.) fell suddenly to the floor in front of Lyndsey. I feigned I needed some water and was close to death. Lyndsey tentatively doubted my claims, but soon I convinced her that I really was about to die and to "tell Mom and Dad I love them" in my best barely-whispering-about-to-die-voice. Sweet, sweet, Lyndsey began to cry (and I CONTINUED!!!) and seconds later Mom and Dad walk in the front door, so I jump up, say "Just kidding!" and walk away. I am ashamed. We often laugh about this now, but truly, I was not very nice sometimes. Lyndsey never held a grudge or stopped loving me, however.
And this example leads me to the truth of the matter: Lyndsey has been the perfect child. I stated this to my Mother a week or so ago and she did not argue. In fact, she said that once (once. once, people!!) she was surprised when Lyndsey got mad at Dad about something. She said she thought "Oh, wow. Lyndsey's got some fire in her!" It's hard to measure up to such goodness and kindness. In fact it's hard to measure up to all of my sisters, but I try not to measure for fear of such a gap.
So what I'm trying to conclude is that Lyndsey is a champion, a true lover of all, an excellent choice to represent Jesus Christ, and an all-around awesome sister. She is going to do great things for good people. I love her, and love that I get to be her sister.
And you must know that these glasses are true vintage glasses. They were found in our mother's hope chest prior to our excursion in May to Escalante, UT. She rocked those puppies, just like Mom did in 1990-1997.
You can follow her personal account of life as an LDS missionary here
