My first memory of her acting like my big sister was when I started first grade. I didn't want to go to school so for the first week I cried as soon as I got there and continued to cry until they sent for her to come get me and take me back to her fourth grade class. She didn't get mad or make fun of me, she'd put her arm around me until I stopped crying and take me back to class. She was just doing what big sisters do. The next memory is from the night I brought my newborn son home from the hospital. Leann had flown home from Hawaii to be here when he was born and we were all staying at moms house and I have this newborn baby that had spent his first week alive in the nicu and I'm sitting at the kitchen table at 2 am sobbing because my hormones are raging and I've got a newborn that terrifies the crap out of me and she gets up and proceeds to make a pot of coffee and starts telling me of all the times her babies had scared the crap out of her. She was just doing what big sisters do. My last favorite memory is from just a few years ago after our mom passed. Leann stayed with me one weekend so we could finish cleaning out moms house. We spent both nights she was here sitting up in my bed drinking wine and laughing and crying. We were sleeping in the same bed and acting like the two sisters we had been growing up, only with wine this time. Leann was a lot of things to a lot of different people but she was my big sister and I'm going to miss her terribly.

Nearly 19 years together we got to do and experience so many things together.  One of my many favorite memories, and I guess maybe it comes to mind first because I'd catch her and she'd share doing it to me too.  That was watching her enjoy doing things, hobbies I guess you'd call them, she seemed to enjoy the most.  She sometimes noticed me watching and sometimes didn't.  The joy for me was to just see her be so into it, to the point that it seemed to take her somewhere else or deep in her thoughts.  Which lead to some of the most amazing smiles and looks of pure freedom from any worries of the world around her.  A bonus would be that different look or smile I'd get when she noticed me watching.  That look of love and/or thank you for finding me so interesting.  The things that took her those places the most were caring for her plants, studying nick knacks she'd pick up off shelves in antique shops, and reading.

Leann always was amazingly kind to me.  I was always aware and encouraged by her sheer strength of being in the moment.   She met everyone with grace no matter how she may have had pain inside.  She told me numerous times, "You are more than what you think!"  I  have always remembered that and kept in my heart.  Such an incredible soul she was!  I love you Leann!