Dear Mary

I have to admit I’m stumped on exactly what to say. I think because this is a birthday I’ve looked forward to even though I knew I would miss it.

You’re turning eight and whenever anyone turns eight we all seem to think about baptism. Especially as a missionary, baptism is a subject of daily conversation.

And now you, my own sister are getting baptized.

Everyone is probably talking to you about baptism though and you might even be getting sick of it. I don’t want to bug you about it too much, but I do want to tell you it’s a good thing. In fact, it’s so good, you’ll remember it your whole life.

I remember the day I got baptized there was no hot water for the font so the family of the other boy spent the morning boiling pots of water and throwing them in the font.

Afterward when we were changing into our dry clothes we discovered that I did not have an extra pair of underwear. Dad laughed and then I spent the rest of the day commando.

It was a crazy day and all the attention on me made me feel funny. So the lesson to be learned is remember an extra pair of underwear– but even if you don’t, not all is lost.

I have to say, you are not the little girl I left behind. I wouldn’t say you are old, but probably a girl instead of a little girl.

Lately I seem to be following a trend of thinking about when you were born and I think I’ll keep it going. I remember one night Mom and Dad went to the doctor to find out if you were a boy or a girl (this was before you were born of course); they came home with a box for us to unwrap.

We unwrapped the box to find little pink clothes. A girl! We were having a sister. But to tell you the truth I think Mom and Dad knew you were a girl before that. Much earlier.

Mom and Dad thought they were done having kids. They had five boys and a lot of days they even thought about selling one of us. They had enough kids.

But they changed their minds. I know why they did, but I just decided you’ll have to ask them. It’s their story to tell.

Anyway, before long you were born and you’ve been with us ever since. I have a sister! Isn’t that exciting? And I want you to know I am happy about that. I love you.

Three cheers for the best sister of all time. May your craziness and spunkiness never cease, may your hair grow beautiful and bright and may you continue to shock and amaze us by being a sister.

I still sit in wonder and awe sometime thinking I am the brother of a sister. I’m so happy we have a girl in our family (besides mom, of course). Isn’t it wonderful? What a blessing you are.

One of the things I love the most about you lately is that you miss me. I wouldn’t say it to anyone else, but will you keep missing me?

You’re the only sister I have and there are more years between you and me than anyone else. I don’t know if I’ll ever really live with you again, but I want you to miss me for now because I miss you.

I hope your baptism is wonderful and I hear lots about it. Love you lots Miss Mary.