Shout Out....

This is Shandee.  AKA Shand.  AKA Shandu.  AKA Shaunaaaay.  AKA my sister.  AKA my best friend.

Shandee is eleven years older than me, and my only true blood sister (I say that because I have lots of sisters of the not blood, or in-law kind).  Shandee and I are as different as you can imagine, and yet we still find little moments when we realize how very alike we actually are.  I have loved that now that I am older, we can relate on a lot more levels and we love talking.  She and my mom are usually the first people I go to when I am in some sort of dilemma.  Guys, she really is just fantastic.  Let me tell you a few reasons why:
Shandee is a wife.  And mommy.  She is a good at both of those.  One of my favorite things about watching Shand be a mommy is how much she plays with her babes.  A lot of times you see mommies just being mommies and ya know, taking are of the kids and teaching them what is okay and what isnt' and yeah of course Shandee does an amazing job at that.  Obviously.  But she is so good at really playing with her kids.  She is a "cool" mom.
She is funny!!!!  We have the exact same laugh and when we get goin' together, there is no stopping us.    She is goofy and brings out the goofy in me and I love it.  She keeps our family laughing with her silly voices and funny dances.
Shandee is a constant friend.  For example, when Shandee was in high school she was a part of the peer tutoring program and became best friends with one of the sweetest angel girls you could ever meet.  To this day, Jenny calls Shandee several times a day because she knows Shandee will always be a resource and friend for her.  Shandee still schedules special time to be with Jenny.  Jenny knows each of Shandees kids by name, and frequently has all of our family go to her family's house to play.  Shand loves Jenny and anyone else for that matter in the most Christ-like ways.  She fulfills her callings, she serves, she is everyone's best friend in her ward, and everyone just loves her.  No one could ever speak unkind words about Shand.  She is just too great!
Now. Speaking of Christ-like.  Shandee has one of the most tender hearts in the world.  There have been several times that I have gone to her with some trouble or concern or heartache and while I cry to her, she cries too.  I've seen her do that with others too.  To me, that is an extremely unique and special gift.  She truly mourns with those who mourn.  She is extremely empathic - a quality I personally work hard to attain.  For her it is the most natural thing in the world.  She loves deeply, openly, and actively.
I so admire my older sister.  I truly feel that so much of who I am goes back to who I watched my sister be.  She was the perfect example to me.  I don't know if I've ever told her this properly, but I loved hoping and thinking that I was maybe becoming like her - music she listened to, clothes she wore, make-up she put on, but mostly the testimony that she lived by.  So many times when I was little, I would walk past my sister's room (later to climb in bed with her because I got scared) and she would be reading her scriptures or kneeling at her bed in prayer.  I honestly don't remember a ton of things from when I was little, but some of my most vivid memories are of my sister - just little things like her cleaning her room while listening to Shania Twain, being so proud of my big sis when she was up dancing on the stage, and us practicing our little "sister, sister" secret handshake.  These are the images I think of when I think of my Shandee.  She is incredible.  Incredible, I tell you!
So just so you know, Shandee Lynn, you are my big sister.  FOREVER!  I couldn't be more blessed.
I sure love you!