Sister Haley

Ask Haley or me if we got along when we were younger, and you will most likely get laughed at. This laughter is no offense to you; it's not your fault for asking, but, if we are being honest here, our childhood relationship left something to be desired. And by something I mean hugs and kisses, sharing, general kindness and cooperation, maybe even an agreement or two thrown in there for good measure. It would be an understatement to say that we weren't the best of friends growing up.
The almost 4 year gap between us didn't bode well when it came to that typical, tempestuous sibling relationship. We were close enough in age that we were always in competition (although, looking back at it, I would have to admit that it was most likely one-sided competition on my part. Haley's generally fairly easy-going and I USED to be, generally, NOT), but far apart enough in years that there wasn't a whole lot of understanding going on behind the scenes. In fact, that past misunderstanding has most certainly left us with fingernail scratch scars on our backs and perhaps a few handfuls of missing hair to prove it. Embarrassing.
In fact, there was once a year-long battle over nothing but a white t-shirt with a sparkly 'California' decal on it. We wrestled it off of each other in a jealous, possessive, rage, on more occasions than I am willing to admit or even remember. Classy, ain't it? That T-shirt now has a permanent home in a keepsake cedar chest, because it is not only quite hilarious to reminisce about, but also represents a "coming of age" for both of us as sisters, and eventually, friends. Best friends, actually.
Ask us how our relationship is now, (what? You don't want to because you were laughed at before? Don't be scared.) and we will tell you that our battle wounds are now beauty marks. Our past arguments and word-wars (and fingernail wars) now provide our family with hours of entertaining anecdotes to be told and fights to be laughed over.
Since those "dark ages" of our relationship, we have spent hours on the phone and in person, laughing and crying with one another over many of life's triumphs and heartbreaks. When I needed someone to talk to at 3 am about a decision I was pining over, Haley was only a phone call (and an ocean, no big deal) away. When Haley needed relationship advice or was feeling lonely on her island out in the Pacific Ocean, I made it a point to answer her cries. She has held my hand and acted as the "bigger" sister as I have wept on her shoulder out of loneliness, confusion, fear, sadness, and happiness over the years. We have shared deep secrets and had hearts-to-hearts in the quiet hours of the night where hidden thoughts and feelings come out of their cobwebbed corners.
She has become a very real part of who I am, and I can only hope that the feeling is reciprocated. She has mothered my girls, and told them they are beautiful. She has calmed their cries and mended their broken hearts when no one else could. She is my sister, and the love that I have for her is really more than even the most beautiful words could ever hope to explain.
That sister, my closest friend, was dropped off at the Missionary Training Center (AKA basic training for missionaries) last Wednesday. Due to their new "drive by drop offs", we decided to forgo the trip to Provo and said our goodbyes at my parents' home last Monday night after a very tender family home evening together. I would be lying if I said it was an easy goodbye for me. Easy, I suppose, in the way that I couldn't ask for anyone to take better care of her than a Heavenly Father who always knows better than I do. But, hard in the way that it is difficult for me to imagine anyone needing her more than I need my sister. That irrational and completely incorrect, but very tangible, feeling has caught me off-guard already on more than one occasion. I keep having to remind myself that I can't keep this beautiful soul to myself. I beam with pride, however, that I have had some, albeit very small and seemingly insignificant, part in teaching her to be a "Sister."
Now that she is "Sister Pratt," I have realized that her job as a missionary will not be too far away from what my "Sister Haley" has been for me all along. A sister teaches learning from mistakes, as she has taught me to do from my own, on too many occasions to count. A sister teaches forgiveness, as she has taught me, as well as given to me, despite my cruel words or actions. A sister teaches joy and happiness in living the gospel, as she has taught me by example. A sister holds your hand, despite being younger in age and perhaps experience, as your cry because of mistakes you have made or at the beautiful cruelty of life. A sister laughs and celebrates with you as you rise triumphant over life's trials. She will be celebrating so many victories as a "Sister" to the people of the Philippines as she helps teach them repentance and forgiveness, and brings them into the fold. She magnifies the sacred calling of "Sister," and I couldn't be happier or more excited for those that they get to experience all that is 'Haley' for the next 18 months.