Marissa. Her face is every bit as beautiful as her name. She's this stunning woman. 22 years old 5"7, voice of an angel, funny as hell. In high school she was the girl every guy wanted and all the girls would have hated her, except she was so freakin' nice that no one could! She was just about perfect. Tons of friends, very smart. She was in the Performance Company (her schools acting group) and the jazz choir, and was beautiful and got great grades and and and and. (trust me, I could go on but you know the type)

That was my big sister. I'm told we look alike, but I honestly don't really see it. I wasn't as smart as her (I'm still not), don't have the voice she does (although mine isn't half bad) and I was never the apple in every guys eye. However, growing up with her was not bad at all. In fact, I would never have chosen anyone else to be my big sister if I had all the choices in the world. She's my best friend. How could she not be though? She's pretty much perfect!

I know what you're thinking.

Actually no I don't. But if someone else said that their sibling was spoiled by God I know I'd think "yeah, okay captain-jealous and dramatic." But I'm not even joking. This girl, was not spoiled by my parents. Really none of us kids were (well...except Gabe. The baby of the family. But seriously all the babies are.) Anyway...no, God himself spoils this girl. When she was little, she used to say "I want to be somewhere between 5"7 and 5"8." No joke, she is 5"7 and a half. She applied to this school in Tennessee for College. The only one she applied to. It's not only difficult to get into but she also couldn't really afford it. She, of course, got in AND of course, got a scholorship and a loan. She lives in Brooklyn NY, I kid you not, RENT FREE.

Here's the doozy. True story right here.

My sister-in-law was pregnant when my Grandfather died. My sister came down for the funeral, and was going to be up in Washington again in another month for my mother's 50th birthday. My sister-in-law was a month away from her due date. Actually about 3 weeks. But Marissa didn't want to wait that long. So the night before she gets on the plane to go home, she prays for dinner and includes "God, please let jenny go into labor tonight so I can meet my niece before I leave". Our repsonses "marissa, she's almost a month away from her due date. the doctor said the baby will almost surely not come early. her doctors appointment was YESTERDAY that told us that...sorry but on this one, you lose."

TWO HOURS LATER! 

Ring Ring!

"hello?"
"hey it's josh. (my brother). Jenny's water just broke. We're on our way to the hospital."

Our responses again. "Marissa, you have to leave in less than 12 hours...we'll go to the hospital but there's no guarantees that she'll be born before you leave."

Doctors responses as of 1AM. "This will probably be a while, she's only dialated to 4"

THREE HOURS LATER! And out come the cries of a newly born child. Marissa got to spend about 4 hours with Audrey before she had to go to the airport.

Now do you all see what I mean? This girl is down right spoiled by God.

So, yes, she's spoiled and yes, she's just about perfect. But she does have a few flaws. And let me tell you one of them. And actually...it's not even a flaw. It's pretty much just a common quirk that she takes to the point of milk-coming-out-of-your-nose-funny.

This one day we're (and by we I mean my mother and I) sitting in our living room when my mom's cell phone rings. Who is it? None other than Marissa! She's sobbing. Not just like, you can kinda tell she's crying, either. I'm talking can't catch her breath, snot running down her nose, sobb-b-bingggg.

At this point, she was still living in Tennessee, had just gotten married and had also just graduated College.

"Marissa hunny, are you okay?"
"N-n-nooooo"
"What's wrong?"
*not-understandable explanation through sobs*
"Marissa, settle down I can't understand you"
"I have to m-m-mooove!"
"Why? What happened?"
"I s-s-saw a m-m-mouse in my k-k-kitchennnn"
*mom starts laughing kind of and trys to be understanding and sympathetic*
"Honey, I'm sure it's gunna be okay. Set some traps."
"I all-r-r-ready d-d-diiiiid"
"Marissa, where's James?" (her husband)
"S-S-SITT-T-TTING RIIIIIGHT N-NEXTTT TOOOO MEEEE"

Hmm...I guess "Bravery" won't go on the top of her perfection list...