My mom was right about a lot of things.

“To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters.

We know each other as we always were.

We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. 

We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.

We live outside the touch of time."

- Clara Ortega

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Jessica texted a group sibling text Christmas Eve:

Merry Christmas! I sure love all of you! Mom was right

—my siblings did become my best friends!

We’ve started a new family scripture study this year (shout-out to my friend Beth who is always willing to share). Every night we discuss and read scripture about a different gospel principle. The theme changes monthly and January’s focus is the family. It’s given me reason to reflect on my very own family. I’ve been thinking a lot about that text Jessica sent. And about that quote by Clara Ortega. About family. And friendship. And about how absolutely right my mom was; my siblings, no doubt, are my best of friends.  

I thought about it when Jami and I started up on another one of our telephone conversations; it was one of those deep ones, about God and charity and about letting go of what we are and becoming more of what we want to be. We can waste hours talking on the phone, discussing everything and nothing and then still have more to talk about the next phone call (which is usually only separated by hours). I thought about it the other night when the group sibling text turned to grocery budgets or the time when my sisters and I texted back and forth about the price of Costco toilet paper (no kidding) and Alan chimed in “who gives a sh@#...”. I thought about it when Alan came over to take down my Christmas lights and when Jessica volunteered to mail me one of Luke’s stuffed animals because Jace couldn’t find his (meaning I had taken his to DI.) . I think about it every time I go over to Kate’s to do a vacant house check; because every single time, without fail, the kids talk about how excited they are {and about how ridiculously long it is taking} for Kate and Jake to get back home. I think about it when the kids talk about Aunt Marie – they adore her, and admire her – and also when I see pictures of years gone by of the adorable cousins growing up together.

I guess what I am trying to say is that my siblings ROCKS and I am so very blessed to have them as friends.

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I think Marie's adorable little Christmas card that she wrote me this year summed up my sibling thoughts best.

"...some people will say that their siblings are annoying or weird, but all I can say are that mine are crazy AND really cool! Merry Christmas."