I had always wanted a brother growing up. I had a sister so it just seemed right to complete the gender collection with a brother. I remember telling my parents this all the time and one day mom told me to go pray for one. A few days later they both told us we were gonna have another baby. From the first ultrasound we nicknamed it Bean Boy. When we found out it was a girl I remember feeling disappointed. I remember exactly where I was sitting in the room and the moment the nurse said it was a girl, and trying to seem happy but really feeling let down. I quickly got over it and have never ever regretted having another baby sister.

On March 15, 1999 we were all in the waiting room outside my mom’s hospital room. I remember Rudy’s first cry and being so excited. The first time I saw her and held her was the first time I had probably held any baby. Shel and I were basically twins growing up and Rudy became our baby sister. She made everybody laugh with her sass unfortunately learned from me and all my friends. She was Rudy-Tooty-Fresh-and-Fruity for years and now we taunt her with the nickname Ruby. (Try it. It’s fun.)

Probably a real awkward picture of us.

Rudy’s 15 now, but still 10 in my eyes. I look at pictures from four years ago and she seems like such a child. When did she turn into a driving teenager? It’s crazy. I let her drive us home from band practice the other night. Not surprisingly, she’s great. Natural, just like everything else.

—

If our names were a hashtag, what would it be?
#rizzytizzy

What do you remember about when we first met?
I met you when I was born, so nothing.

When is your birthday?
March 15, 1999.

How do you relax when you’re stressed?
Watch YouTube videos.

What makes a place home for you?
Stuff from the past.

What’s your biggest passion? Something that makes you really happy like what you were put on this earth to do.
Doing makeup. (She’s pretty gewd.)

What’s your favorite time of day?
Morning/afternoon.

Pet peeves?
Everything besides me.

—

And keeping with the teenager vibe she answered these questions just like a teenager. 10/10 thumbs up.

Rudy’s still sassy and headstrong, just like me. It’s kinda like watching myself grow up which is weird and totally awful at the same time. But we’ll get through it. If she doesn’t kill us with her driving. (lolol)

It’s hard to believe that in just a couple years she’ll be graduating high school and then going to college and becoming an adult. Seems like just now I’m becoming an adult. I can’t wait to see what she does with her life.

Love ya, Ruby. 🙂

xx

I first met Shelby when she was born a year and two months after me. I don’t remember anything about that encounter but I remember lots about the years since. As kids Shel and I were often mistaken for twins. We hated it growing up but basically embrace it now.

Shel and I have a lot of parallels in our personalities but there are a lot of differences. We share the biggest love you’ve ever seen for Anberlin and crush hard on all the members. God has called us both to the worship leading scene but is taking us there very differently. For example, as most of you might know, Shel is heading to Waco in just a few short weeks to attend Truett Seminary and getting her Masters of Divinity with an emphasis in Worship Leadership. (Supes fancy.) Me? No. I’m done with school. Forever. I could not be more proud of her for shooting for her dreams and being ambitious and hardworking and independent. Those traits are specific to her. Shel had no problems moving two hours away to A&M Commerce for school and living basically alone for three years, and then no problems shooting off to Waco where she knows not a single soul and living for three more years. I can’t even imagine.

Shel’s heart is dedicated to worship and everyone sees that and admires that in her. Our church is rooting for her and praying for her on her new Waco journey as she walks into the doors God is opening for her.

Humor? Fuggedaboutit. We laugh constantly. So. Many. Inside. Jokes. And so many fun mini road trips seeing each other and listening to Anberlin or worship music and laughing our butts off at something completely stupid. (That’s basically our entire family, though.) We have so much fun together and I couldn’t ask for a better sister to do life with. It’s just fun.

She’s creative and smart and takes all my outfit pictures and inspires me to be a better photog hobbyist. She’s great with kids naturally, something I am not. I admire a lot of the qualities in her that I don’t have.

—

If our names were a hashtag, what would it be?
#sisterswag

What do you remember about when we first met?
Nothing whatsoever. Probably because I had just exited the womb. (Ew.)

When is your birthday?
November 20.

How do you relax when you’re stressed?
I hate being around people when I’m stressed, so I isolate myself, pray (praying helps a lot), and probably watch a movie to take my mind off of it. Most likely Harry Potter.

What makes a place home for you?
I know it’s super cheesy, but anywhere is home to me if my family’s there. (Are they crying yet?)

What’s your biggest passion? Something that makes you really happy like what you were put on the earth to do.
I have zero doubt that I was put on this earth to worship. I love to sing, but singing doesn’t satisfy the deepest part of me, worshiping does. And I want to spend my life doing that, and helping others feel that same satisfaction that only Jesus offers.

What’s your favorite time of day?
For everyday, the evening Golden Hour wins hands down. But I also love stars, so it’s kind of a tie between the Golden Hour and any really clear night.

Pet peeves?
Complaining and negativity. I hate it.
And hearing people’s chewing sounds makes me crazy. (SHE’S ONLY SAYING THIS BECAUSE SHE HATES THE WAY I CHEW.)

—

Her favorite color is turquoise. If Shelby were a color she would be turquoise. Her cat Ike is her child. So much so that everyone of us hates him because he’s so spoiled. She’s really good at food. And by that I mean making new things that are totally delicious that takes me to fun restaurants she found on the internet. We go to concerts and make it a whole day and shop and eat and drive and have fun. Eating is the main part, though.

I haven’t fully realized that she’s leaving in a few weeks and I will miss her. SO much. But the trips visiting will be that much more fun, I just know it. And seeing what she does with the kick-butt apartment? I can’t wait.

 

Love you, Shel.

 

xx