sisterlove

on saturday morning at 7am, the buzzing of my phone woke me up. it was my sister saydi, calling from boston. i figured she forgot to factor in the time change, and i drowsily silenced the call. when she called again, i was a little annoyed that i wasn’t left to sleep in when i have such early weekday mornings! when the phone rang the third time, i groggily answered, “hey sayd, is everything okay?”

she told me that she had just booked a plane ticket and was leaving her house in half an hour, and that she’d be here at 8:45pm, if that was okay with me.

what an act of pure sisterlove!! saydi woke up, read a sorrowing email i’d sent the night before, arranged for the care of her husband and four children, and went to the airport. i am tremendously touched by her decision to come, and enormously imbued with love and strength from her visit.

i still can’t believe this happened! and i’ll never be able to belive how blessed i am to have this sisterlove.

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on sunday we walked the dish, explored stanford campus and attended the end of a beautiful service in memorial church. it was such a pretty, bright day. saydi listened and empathized and taught and loved and shared and made me laugh. it was just such, such a beautiful thing to be together in this place in time and space.

i’ll forever cherish this time we spent together.

we went to church looking like sisters – colorful clothes and the exact same bag. after church we went straight to the beach and made it just in time for the most glorious sunset. gosh it was incredible. these pictures just don’t do it any justice! the last hues of day crawled over the waves and the mist and the clouds and the sand and it really was like a little slice of heaven on earth. 

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on monday, we went to the city, and we couldn’t have ordered up a better day. we ran nine miles from the ferry building, along the piers, past the marina and crissy field, across the golden gate bridge and down the hill into sausalito. it was so exhilarating and awesome. we took the ferry back and being on the open bay with all that wind in our hair was so invigorating, so curative and emboldening.

we ate delicious food at the ferry building and then drove to the tippy top of nob hill to check out the ribbons installation at grace cathedral (more on that later). we sat in the park on the grass under the sun and talked. we went home, showered, and shared my favourite meal in the world.

and then, all too soon, this miraculous, exquisite weekend was over.

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i just feel completely at a loss for words to explain what this weekend with my sister meant to me. i am so blessed and so grateful.

Comments

  1. Charity, if I could, I would come up to your city to be with you. There would only be three problems, though:
    1)We're total strangers
    2) You're much wiser and put-together than me, so I would be of no help
    3) We're total strangers

    This is going to sound strange, but I like you + want you to be happy + am waiting for the day you title a post 'It was all worth it!' with a picture of you in the arms of someone masculine and rugged and awesome.

    LOL I might regret posting this comment!

    Love, A total stranger

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  2. Come to Abu Dhabi to take some time off!!!

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  3. I know you have been receiving a lot of advice to venture out of your pond. However, this post exemplifies why your pond is the perfect place for you. There are plenty of men out there who will love swimming in your pond. I have no doubt that love will find you.

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  4. What a gift. Sisters are the absolute best.

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  5. That Saydi is a good one! I knew her one summer when we both were counselors at EFY. I looked up to her so much. I love that she listened to her heart and figured out a way to be with you when you needed her.

    I join with others in confirming that you are wonderful, deserving of love and certain to find it. The Lord's timing can be difficult to understand but it is always right. He has the perfect plan for you, as He did for me.

    Hold on and keep smiling that radiant smile.

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  6. My sister did the very same for me when I was living on the East Coast and far away from family. It was so wonderful. It made the hard time worth it, because it brought me closer to my sister and gave me an experience I will never forget. That is what I love about trials - it gives people the opportunity to serve and uplift one another. It brings people closer.

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  7. so glad you have a sister-friend like that. love you lots and lots and lots. there is a minuscule chance i'm in san francisco for half a day during president's day weekend...just saying :).

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  8. As an only child I'm very envious of this special sisterhood you guys share. I want in on the secret of where to get such a cute purse :)

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  9. Hugs to you, Charity. Hold on to your dreams.

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  10. What a fabulous sister you have!
    I'm happy that you have such a supportive family.

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  11. How great! What an awesome sister!

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  12. “People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

    A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

    A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master...” Eat, Pray, Love

    Hugs to you!!

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  13. Char, I am just now catching up on your blog. This is such a great documentation of our time together. That was a magical moment in space and time that I'll never forget. It was every bit as good for me as it was for you. You are inspiring to be around. Always. But I found you even more radiant and strong as I watched you face trials head on. You are glorious.

    I love you.

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  14. This semester we are studying psych nursing. And a BIG thing that is emphasized is that a lot of the patients who end up in patient don't have a support system. Having a support system is what keeps us sane. I'm glad you have lots of supports! (I'm not saying you would be in-patient psych, otherwise, I'm just saying that support gives you a boost!)

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  15. I read this in Mexico when I couldn't comment. Although I knew Saydi was with you it just warmed my heart to see you holding each other and finding a way to start the healing. Nothing could have made me happier! Love you both so much!

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  16. thanks for reminding me in the middle of chaos and heartbreak to embrace the beauty in this world.

    i love your colorful, beautifully written posts. you brighten my day. i hope life cheers up for you.

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