I recently held what I think is one of the highest, honorable positions a girl can hold in her lifetime.

I stood next to my sister on her wedding day as her maid of honor.

As I stood up there and watched her walk down the aisle holding onto my father’s arm, her face glowing under her veil, I couldn’t believe the day had finally come when she would no longer depend on me to vent about a bad day or to be the first to find out whatever big news she had. It’s time for me to hand over those duties to her husband – my new brother-in-law.

My sister and I hold a very special bond, one that most sisters don’t. While we are related by blood, we are also best friends. It’s crazy how fast time flies by. It seems like yesterday we were playing on the same soccer team in high school and spending summers hanging out by the pool with our cousins.

Separated by three years, we didn’t always get along when we were younger. We had our fair share of fights and even made holes in our basement walls from fighting each other with tent poles. It wasn’t until high school that we really began to get along, and see that we had more in common than just our last name. It is history from there.

I’ve always looked up to Cara, and can honestly say I think she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known – inside and out. Just one of her many accomplishments was graduating from Kansas State University. After earning her teaching degree, she went on to teach at Wichita Southeast High School in Wichita. As a young, beautiful teacher, she held her own and made changes in that school including adding an after-school program for students to use exercise as a way to stay out of trouble.

She helped steer me in the direction of teaching, and I can only hope I can do as much as she already has when I begin my career.

It’s hard to believe she doesn’t have our last name anymore, and that she’s found that man who swept her off her feet, but her husband would be the only person in the world I would give my best friend to.  It takes a lot to sweep my sister off her feet, as she is a strong, independent woman, but he did it, and I admire him for that.

I can never say thank you enough to her for allowing me to be the girl who stood next to her on her special day while she combined her life with Norris, so hopefully this is a start.<br/>I may have to share my best friend with someone else, but I still get to keep my sister, and in the process I've gained a brother.I may have to share my best friend with someone else, but I still get to keep my sister, and in the process I've gained a brother.
I may have to share my best friend with someone else, but I still get to keep my sister, and in the process I’ve gained a brother.