A Letter to Jennie Vandever (Sister)

Jennie,

I haven’t talked to you in a while, so I don’t know if you are aware of what I’ve been doing in writing these letters of late, but I thought I would let you know that once a week I have been writing and posting letters to those who mean the most to me. I began with a letter to God, then I turned my attention to dad, mom, Julie and now you. I usually post them on Mondays at my blog site.

Whether you realize it or not, you have been instrumental in my life. I don’t remember precisely when it all began, but I think it centers around you pushing that bully into the lockers at school. I think it was my first year of baseball. I must have been about nine. We practiced behind our house, across Poesta Creek. I don’t even think dad was coaching then. One of my teammates had an older bother that bullied me around one day at the practice field and I came home in tears. He went to high school with you, you found him, shoved him up against the lockers and threatened him with his life if he ever touched me again. He never did.

There have been so many things you’ve done for me over the years, that there are almost too many to number. You have a heart of gold and I think your kids carry with them the same heart. You have every reason to be proud. Your family is loved by so many. You and Gilbert have instilled in them a work ethic and a heart for people. That will carry them a long way.

Not long ago, you suggested to me that you were the “black sheep” of our family. You were wrong. I don’t think that way of you and I don’t believe Julie does either. You are not the odd one out and you definitely aren’t a disgrace. If in my past, in particular, I have given you that impression then I am asking you for your forgiveness. That our lives are different doesn’t make you a “black sheep” in my eyes. It never has and it never will!

The dynamic of my household is strikingly similar to that of ours when we were growing up: two older girls and a boy. The main difference is that there isn’t the significant age span between Aby and Reese as there is between you and me. I know I’ve told you this before, but Aby reminds me of you in so many ways. She has a wonderful heart, but you don’t want to get crossways with her. I think she senses the disadvantage of being a middle child like I think you did and probably still do. She bears so many of your qualities. This being so, there is hardly a day that goes by that you don’t cross my mind. And for that, I am so blessed. While we live over 300 miles away from each other, I still get to see you everyday!

Jennie, you are a wonderful sister, a faithful wife and a loving mother. You should be extremely proud. I know I am very proud of you. My family loves you, Gilbert, Garrett, Courtney and Gavin very much. Tell the Garrett and Gavin that when we come down for Courtney’s graduation Reese wants to wrestle. I Love you!