I've had a lot of "sisters" in my life. Through most my teen years I had 3 best friends. The 4 of us were like sisters. We were inseparable. With time and marriages we've all gone our own ways. Cristie went to Iowa with her husband for chiropractor school, Missie lives in Ogden and started a business with her husband downtown, Amber's moved a few times and now lives in North Ogden. We send each other Christmas cards and that's about it.
As soon as I started college I joined a sorority. Those too were my "sisters." We were together a lot for just over 3 years. I really enjoyed their company. Many of them attended my wedding reception but like my high school friends we've all gone our own ways.
4 years ago I joined an online community. I have forged great friendships with many women all over the US. We all belong to the Sisterhood of the Fancy Britches. They too are a sort of "sister." We share a lot of details with each other about our lives. We've watched each other's children grow up. I've met a handful of them in real life. They are all wonderful and amazing women.
At church my name is Sister Parish. There too I am a kind of sister. I join with not only the other sisters in my ward But I join with 5 million other woman across the earth as a sister in Zion. Together we stand strong and immovable in our faith of Jesus Christ, strong and immovable in strengthening our families, and strong and immovable in the relief and lifting up of others.
Most important, I am a biological sister to a beautiful woman 5 years younger than me. Her name is Natalie. She is one of my best friends. Like all sisters we've had our fights. Like the Great Curling Iron war of '97 when I uninvited her to my wedding. I don't know what I'd do without her. My life is greater because she has been in it. I love her children like my own and she feels the same for mine. I am so grateful for my forever sister.
The other day we did what sisters do best. We did something together. We decided to can grapes. It was definitely eventful.
The jars ready to go.
The juice started flowing!
The jelly started cooking.
And we thought it all was going great when. . .
No, no one died there. See that measuring cup on the bar stool? I forgot it was there. It was FULL of juice. I tipped it over. Natalie (did you notice she is 7 months preggo?) instantly slipped in it and fell to the floor. Hard. I started screaming. I tried to catch her. I instinctively started screaming, "BRANDON!" I tried to pick her up. I kept asking over and over, "Are you okay?!!!" I just knew, A, she was burned by hot juice, B, she broke something, C, she was going into early labor because of the fall, or, D, all of the above. All the while she is laying on the floor, laughing so hard she cannot breath and is COVERED in grape juice. Several minutes later she stopped laughing enough she was able to stand up.
She assures me even now she is fine. Oxy took the stains out of her clothes. And no we didn't get a picture of her on the floor or her grapey self. It is definitely a moment we will both NEVER forget. :)
The canners sealing the lids.
The Juice.
The YUMMY jelly.
I love you Natalie!
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