AHEM... AM I ON?

my baby sister, Cami, is celebrating her 20th birthday today.

in honor of this momentous day,
today's blog entry is an official dedication and blog shout-out (or "blout-out") to this beautiful sister of mine. it will totally pale in comparison to the sweet blog she wrote me for my birthday last year.. (Cami is a far better writer and journalist than i. she's much better at expressing herself, and if the internet ever gave us points for blogs written, she would totally own me).. but i have decided that after months of her prodding me to do so, i will proverbially dust off the so-called "keys" on this here keyboard and resurrect this dead blog of mine.

and what better day to finally post something than today: Cami's BIRTHDAY... to honor my little sister with a blout-out.

so let me give you a little history on "the Cami."

needless to say, her and i go way back; i've known Cami her whole life. we are the only two children of our very lucky parents. :) when i was just two months shy of five years old, Cami plopped out onto the scene on August 8th, 1988 (yup. that's 8/8/88). sibling rivalry was a non-issue for me. i actually thought my pudgy-head of a baby sister was pretty cool. while mom was pregnant, my parents enrolled me into these "big brother" classes that taught me how to love, treat and care for my new sister (like things to teach her, how to hold her, etc.). i passed with flying colors. with my little certificate in hand to prove it, i was so prepared and looking forward to sharing the house with my new miniature sidekick.

we lived in mission viejo growing up. it was on these stomping grounds that Cami and i shared some crazy adventures: cruising two-deep in our pow-pow-powerwheels down the street.. creating swimming games at the local clubhouse.. playing at the park with our cousins.. owning the other neighborhood kids at the annual halloween costume contest.. my friends and i launching Cami down the stairs on a homemade "sled" made of various household furnitures.. haha. oh, those were the days. we had a blast growing up.

one day, Cami thought it'd be a great idea for her to tell my 6th grade crush, Ashley's, little sister that i was digging her older sister (unbeknownst to me). what the heck, Cami. so lame. even though i found out that Ashley was feeling it, i was so pissed that Cami totally blew my cover. it was sixth grade. that's just so uncool. but in the end, it probably would've never worked out with Ashley anyway.. i mean, she had a ton of growing up to do. ha. but it's kinda cool seeing how my sister thought she was hooking me up in that. that was first grade Cami.. at her young age, wanting her older bro to be stoked. she's just cool like that.

as Cami entered high school, she blossomed into a smart, responsible and beautiful young lady; i grew to be anything else. our awesome sibling alliance slowly dissolved and we soon drove each other nuts over anything and everything. i was an idiot those days, and we both sorta became "too cool." we did not have a blast.

then something rad happened... God chose to save me. he set my feet on solid ground... and my life and eternal security was forever changed. it's awesome... consequently, i wanted so badly for Him to do the same work in my little sister. so i began praying for that. i prayed endlessly. my relationship with Cami dramatically improved. better than ever before, actually. however, Cami and i still had a number of frustrating conversations around this time.. about her relationship with her Maker.. about His pursuit of her.. and she would not and could not get it.. but very subtly, God was teaching us both a lot. i felt like i was in "big brother" class all over again.. but this time, it was the Lord who was teaching me how to love, treat and care for my sister.. how to pray for her, how to encourage her and how to trust Him.. consequently.. He chose to save her!! and after years of prayer and trusting in God's plan for my sister's life... we had this awesome night:


Cami's baptism
...

every time, this picture just sucker punches me to my core...

i believe there are few moments that a dude is legitimately allowed to don his tear-filled eyes.. thinking about how much you love and adore your baby sister, and celebrating the fact that she knows her Savior, and that He knows her, is definitely one of them...

today, my sister is a daughter of the Most High. she's an incredible human being, who is constantly growing in character and servanthood. she loves by wanting God's best for those around her. she faithfully serves the last and the least, and the neglected and the poor, every weekend at a motel in santa ana. i am so proud of her. she's adored by her elders. she's respected by her peers. she's admired by all. and her life... it's a testimony of the amazing and redeeming work of Jesus Christ in the life of just another former punk Poblete kid.
season after season, day after day, i see more of Him through her. she's a different woman now than she was a few years ago.
and one day, we will both stand in eternity in an assembly of worship to the One who made it all possible...

for that... i am grateful beyond words.


Cami, i love you,

and I am so proud of you.

Happy Birthday, baby sister.

and welcome to the "20 years-old and up" club.


-Chris