Two White Dresses

When Aleah was four and she saw the ultrasound picture of the baby inside me, she was convinced the baby was a boy, since the image showed no hair.

That day Aleah began praying earnestly for a sister.

When Katelyn was born, Aleah was convinced that God changed His mind and heard her prayers.

On her baby sister's dedication day several months later, Aleah held her so proudly, this sister she had prayed for. Katelyn wore the white dress that all baby girls in the family wear, a tradition that began with me, my parents' oldest daughter, a dress that has been worn by sisters, cousins, nieces, daughters and granddaughters.

Aleah could not have known on that dedication day that as a girl, she would get tired of a younger sister getting into her stuff, that they would fight over toys and play together,

that as teens,

they would both play marimba in the marching band,

be mistaken for twins,

both attend the same college,

and one day

the little sister that Aleah held and prayed for,

would stand next to heron another dedication day,

when Aleah would wear white,

and Katelyn would hold her bouquet and fix the train of her dress

as Aleah spoke vows before God to her new husband.

Two days. Two white dresses. Two sisters.