Tuesday 7 June 2011

Sisters, Sisters

Sisters are sisters, no matter the age.  Two days ago, I travelled 2 hours to get together with my sister to get my maternity clothes back from her.  We have always shared maternity clothes, and probably because I got pregnant first 5 and a half years ago, most of the clothes that have gone back and forth have been mine.  Although when she was pregnant and I wasn't, she gave me a bunch of her other clothes for 9 months.  When my sister called a few months ago to tell me she was pregnant, it was extremely difficult for me to pack up the maternity clothes to give to her, as I had hoped to be the next one to wear them, and it had already been two years of waiting.  But in faith that I would need them before she was done with them, I marked my initial on every piece that was mine and handed them over again.  When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I would need the clothes back, but it leaves her in a bit of a bind, as most of them are mine.  On Sunday, it was exciting to see her and compare bellies, and make the exchange.  She is two months ahead of me, so I let her keep the larger things.  But what intrigued me today was that although we are many miles apart, we are sharing a common experience, and its fun to be able to help each other out with the cost of maternity clothes, although this time we'll be a little more on our own.
  However, maternity clothes are not the only thing that goes back and forth.  She has a daughter who is between my girls in age.  Right from the beginning we have also sent girls clothes back and forth.  Once Chasadya is done with them, I send them to her, and when her daughter is done with them, they come back for Mikaela.  She has since had a boy, and I'm curious what will happen this time around when our babies will be so close in age.  Neither of us know yet what we're having.  This clothing exchange we've done has been so helpful to both of us.  Although I need to buy everything for Chasadya, my sister still buys stuff for her daughter, so when that comes here, I feel like Mikaela has new stuff too, because Chasadya has never worn it.  It helps with the cost as well.  We're coming to a bit harder time as they become more and more the same size, and we've long given up on shoes, as Chasadya has extremely small feet.  She is wearing the same size as my niece, and in fact she and Mikaela wear the same shoes from time to time.
   This morning my girls decided to wear each others clothes.  Of course they don't fit properly, but they were both excited to go to the other's drawer to pick something out.  I didn't realize that this desire to raid another's closet started at such a young age!  But I can only hope and pray that this will be something that can continue for many years to come, and they can experience the blessings of a sister like I have, no matter the distance between them.