happy birthday to one of the best.

when i say that my sister and i are "close" it may be the understatement of the century.

and if you've spent any amount of time with us, you know that it's true. 

{the spontaneous laughter and criticizing each other openly usually gives us away.

oh, and the matching. we like to buy coordinating outfits sometimes. don't judge.}

i guess that's bound to happen when you're mom dies suddenly during your childhood and someone has to be there to take over. not only was calley my sister, but she became a mother figure to me in more ways than one.

i mean, i went through a phase where i refused to shower and wore overalls constantly. 

and if those two things alone aren't a cry for help, i don't know what is. 

life has changed a lot since my staunch days of resistance to hygiene, but i can honestly say that there hasn't been a single moment where i haven't needed my big sister there to take care of me. 

and there hasn't been a moment where she hasn't been right there...

fashion advice ready.

a sack lunch of leftovers for work the next day.

a space to cry.

a matching "love" sweater to wear on valentine's day.

an open invitation for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

and it's like she doesn't think twice about it. 

calley is..

 so completely generous. 

so completely aware of the needs around her.

and so completely active in helping to meet those needs.

i feel so blessed that of all the people in the world, God put us together as sisters.
that i was blessed with such a generous, kind-hearted soul to watch and try to model after.

so on her birthday, i celebrate a life that inspires. a life that gives. a life that has made mine a million times richer.

here's to you calley.

i can't wait to grow old and become a crotchety old woman with you.