I have such a strong memory of you coming home from college for the weekend. You would get to the house late Friday, we would eat tuna fish sandwiches on Saturday, and on sunday we would take naps on the couch. I loved that feeling of you holding me tight in your arms. As you would fall asleep that feeling of mine was soon replaced with "let me out of here!" But I never wanted to wake you. So I would lay with you and my seven year old self would try so very hard to be patient for I knew that you would be making the drive back to Provo soon.
On my Birthday you were always thinking of your baby sister. Receiving that gigantic box in the mail was literally the highlight of my life. I remember opening it up to find a giant purple bag and inside that bag was a giant brown (stuffed) puppy. My childhood life was complete!
When you told me that in about 6 months I would become an Aunt, it didn't register. I don't think it really did until mom and I were standing outside your hospital room, with our ears pressed against the door, and we finally heard the sweetest, most precious baby cry I had ever heard. I couldn't believe you had become a mother. I watched you be a great one. You loved your little boy with your entire heart.
I imagine that every 18 year olds first part time job experience is a little intimidating or scary. Not mine. When you came to Rexburg and started working at our local gym, you didn't waste any time on convincing the management to hire your two little sisters. My first day, (I wasn't even officially hired yet!) you got me straight to work. Working on knowing every persons life story, that is. You knew EVERYONE. and you didn't just know their names. You knew their entire life. Geez, you knew who exactly was sleeping with who in that scummy gym. Besides the weird stuff that went on there, you truly knew the good in other people. It was just something about you. People were drawn to you. You would always introduce me to the craziest people. And suddenly, because I was "Julia's little sister" I had all these awesome old man friends.. (and a lot of normal friends too). You helped me to understand the importance of people.
You, Stacy, and I signed up for a halloween race in Rigby. We went to Walmart for costumes and you convinced me to be a blue zombie butterfly complete with zombie wings. I'm kind of shy and awkward about these kinds of things but I'm so glad you made me do this. You helped me to get out of my comfort zone. I remember laughing so hard at your "sad" little lady bug antennas (you were a zombie lady bug.. or something..haha).
This was the time in our lives that we were finally getting close. Not just the "you're my big sister and I'm the little sister" close. It was like we were really friends.
These past months no matter how bad you were hurting or what was going on, you were always concerned for me. Asking me questions about school, work, our new apartment. You would message me "be happy!" and give me words of encouragement when I was sad. Your stories were the best entertainment and distracted be from my own worries.
I'll finish right here. I have a lot more but I can't get it out right now.
Julia, I love you so much. This is the hardest thing.
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