Memory Monday - My sister Emily

Today is my sister Emily's birthday. In honor of her big day I am dedicating this memory monday to her.

Emily and I are four years apart and were very close while growing up. We used to spend all day long outside playing with our brother Tom during the summer. We would go on all kinds of adventures together. We grew up in Vernal, Utah and had lots of open area around us. Somedays we would pack a lunch and go exploring around our house. Somedays we would ride our bikes to the nearest gas station, about two miles away, and spend our money on candy. There was a stoplight located several miles down the road from our house, but if you looked real hard you could see it. We would play red light green light following this stop light. She and I enjoyed roller skating and would make up our own roller skating dance routines and practice them in the street in front of our house. We spent a lot of time playing in the street come to think of it.

As my older sister, she felt it was important to share with me her wisdom and knowledge. One day she handed me a screw and said, "If any boy ever asks you if you want a screw, runaway". I had no idea what she was talking about (I wonder if she did either), but I was ready to run if any boy should say such a thing to me. LOL

One summer we spent a couple of weeks in Salt Lake City. My grandma had had a stroke earlier that year and required a lot of care. We were still living in Vernal at the time so my grandpa asked if Emily and I could come stay there for a couple of weeks to help out. Emily was old enough to drive and while we were there she was able to use "the blue bomb". This was a VERY large old blue car that my grandpa had had forever. My grandpa had a membership to a local country club and we were able to go swimming at the pool there. I still remember one day driving home from the pool listening to the song "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel on the radio with the windows rolled down, thinking that we were so cool.

As we got older, she became more interested in boys and such things. I became more of a pest wanting to borrow her clothes and invading her personal stuff. I idolized her and wanted to be just like her when I grew up. She was always a peacemaker in our home, which at times really got on my nerves. It was hard to stay mad at her for very long, but sometimes I just wasn't ready to stop being mad when she felt it was time.

Now she is a great mom with 3 great kids. She and her family have been through a lot between her heart problems and his accident last year. They are strong and have survived. Emily has always been an example to me of great faith, courage and persistance. I still look up to her a lot and want to be like her when I grow up.

Thanksgiving 2004 Amanda, Jenni, Emily and Tom. Looking our best first thing in the morning.