My brother and his wife will be married for 4 years on Thursday. I am so happy for them and am blessed with an extremely incredible sister. I do have to say that it has been really hard for me to let go of my brother, even after he moved 5 hours away.

Being a little sister is a big job and, although I am sure that my brothers' significant others think that I am a spoiled brat, being the only girl is a hard thing! My brothers were my first friends, protectors and sometimes enemies.

Keith and I used to fight all the time, no matter what it was about. Generally, I was either snooping through his things, or would occasionally manage to get him in trouble. My "behavior" would bring Barbie's head being taken off, my favorite stuffed animal hidden and no time on the Nintendo.

Russell was the ultimate big brother. My mom says that I am sometimes a bigger Russell's girl than my dad (which if you know me, then that is saying a lot!) I was so mad at him the day he left for college. I can still remember crying when he left, and then being angry when he came home the first time and spent all the time with his friends.

Although the content of my relationship with both was different, I wanted to be like them. I wanted to become someone that they would be proud of.

I have always said that the guy that I would marry would have to get the approval of my father, and my brothers. My brothers will be the harder obstacle of the two :) And the girls that they dated got put through a secret skeptical eye.

But when Russell came home and told me about Meagan, I knew that she was going to be part of my family. Once I met her and saw the way Russ was with her, it confirmed my belief and I started down a path of letting go.

Being the only girl in his life for so many years made it hard for me to just let someone take over. Being a mother hen since I was old enough to walk, I felt that my brood was leaving me and it was hard. That being said, I have learned over the past 4 years, that he is in good hands, and Meagan has become not only my sister, but a best friend. I have also learned that just because he is not in the same time, it doesn't mean that our relationship has gotten worse. I think that I talk to him more than anyone else on the phone.

With Keith, it took him longer to become the big brother. It was not until I entered highschool that I became "cool" enough for him to hang out with. I think that he finally figured out that he could use the little sister as a lure for the girls. Whatever it was, the tone of our relationship went from being just family to being the best of friends. This led to me being completly corrupted and turned weird by him and his friends. I could never thank him enough, though :)

His girlfriend is a good match for him. Hearing them talk makes my head hurt, mainly because many of the topics go right over my head!!

So, it seems weird to me that one brother has his own family, one is turning the big 3-0 this year and I am 25, yet when we get together we still have the same childhood goals...to embarrass our parents in public as much as possible. I still look up to them, and still take care of them, if only at a distance..silently praying that God will lead them to whatever makes their heart happy. Even if that means living 5 hours away or living in a different state. I am proud of them, who they have chosen to start their own lives with and what they have decided to do with the lives that God has given them.

Love ya! Mir