Valiant Spirits: Lessons I Have Learned from My Siblings

I've been thinking a lot lately about eternal families and how grateful I am to have one. The peace and comfort I receive from knowing that if I live righteously that I will be happily reunited with my family after this life is irreplaceable. Words cannot describe how badly I wish everyone could feel the way I do. I want to share our dear Heavenly Father's Plan Of Happiness with every person that I meet! If every family was sealed for eternity in the temple, and then lived in the way that allows them to claim that blessing, there would be such joy and harmony in the world. Hopefully one day the world will treasure marriage and family again as it once used to, and protect it accordingly. My family is my rock. They anchor me down in troubling times and they provide me shelter when the storms of life billow around me. Every single family member I have has been given to me for specific reasons, and I wouldn't trade any of them for the world. I love them all so much! I have been blessed with incredible parents, and beyond that, I have been blessed with four best friends; my siblings. Although they are all younger than I am, they have taught me so many lessons, and those lessons are what I hope to share with y'all today. 
Brynne Alexandra- From Brynne I've learned to have joy, no matter what the circumstance. She has been given so many hard, hard trials in her young life, and has born each one of them with a smile in her heart and a joke on her lips. Brynne has taught me to laugh freely, and to sing whenever possible. (Even when doing dishes.) She taught me to just be myself, and to forget the judgments of others. She is a beautiful and unique spirit who is comfortable with who she is, that's incredible for a teenage girl. (That's incredible for any age female, really.) Brynne has never been shy about giving compliments or service, and that is a wonderful characteristic that I am trying to implement in my own life. She sees a need, and she jumps to help. She sees a frown, and she leaps to make that person smile. Brynne has also taught me to cherish virtue and innocence. She does not trifle with anything that is beneath her divine potential, and I am grateful for her presence of mind and spirit to live in this world and not of it. She has the biggest heart and the sweetest personality and I am so grateful to her for her example. 
Erika Elyse- From Erika I have learned to carry myself with grace, and to respect myself. Erika has an incredible inner strength. I don't know where she gets it from. She knows that she is a divine daughter of God, and expects others to treat her accordingly. She does not permit herself to be walked all over, and will stand up for what is right whenever she is called upon to do so. She has taught me to find passions and work toward them with all my might. She has this incredible gift for athletics, but she does not let her natural talent go to waste. Last summer I got to see every single one of her track meets, and let me tell you; this girl works so hard...and it pays off. I am so proud of her and all she has accomplished, and I am excited to see where she goes in life. Erika is also a quiet and gentle spiritual giant. She is truly blossoming into a miraculous and strong young woman, and that makes me more proud than any accomplishment on the court or on the track. 
Lily Kate- From Lily I have learned to be sweet, but at the same time have a little sass to me. Ever since she was toddling around, this girl has been a little fireball...and I love it. She has taught me to stay lively and to keep the boys on their toes. (Yes, you heard me right. I have gotten dating advice from my nine year old sister......and sadly she is still the master.) Something I have loved learning from my dear Lily is to not be afraid to be yourself, let loose, and to get a little dirty every once in a while. She doesn't shy away from fun, even if it requires dirt under your fingernails and bugs in your pockets. She has this beautiful spirit of adventure that I hope she follows for the rest of her life. I know she has inspired me to break out of my comfort zone more often and to just take a breath and enjoy the world God has created for us all. She appreciates His creations more than most people I know, and her love for every living thing has touched my heart and helped me to do the same. 
Brock Jameson- From Brock I have learned to view the world differently, and to be okay with that. My sweet Brock is the most perceptive and deep-thinking little boy I have ever met. He questions the world around him, tests it out, and learns for himself the truths of the universe. I have loved watching him grow spiritually by utilizing this pattern, and he has inspired me to do the same. Brock is also a sensitive, sweet, and loving spirit. He never has any animosity for anyone (except for an occasional spat with Lily.) Even when other children treat him poorly, he loves them. Even when I get short of patience with him, he loves me. I wish I had the sort of unconditional love for others that I could forgive and rebound that quickly. He has a heart for others, and never wishes harm upon them. He is a merciful little boy who will choke back tears and say that something someone else did didn't hurt that bad, just so they will not be punished. He always has kind words for all of us, and when he is not teasing us mercilessly, it's not uncommon for him to say "you're beautiful," just because he can. I hope one day I can love people as deeply as he does. 
I truly have been blessed with the best sisters and brother a girl could ask for. While I am the oldest and supposed to be the example, it's interesting that, in reality, I learn more from the lessons they have taught me than I could ever hope to teach them. They are pure gold in my eyes, and I would do anything for them. I often wish I lived closer so I could be a bigger part of their growing-up process, but they keep making me proud, no matter how many states away I live. I am grateful, above all, that they keep themselves pure and unspotted from the world. If there is one thing I hope they learn from me, it is that I love the gospel and that I want them to as well so we can all be together in Heaven one day. I adore my siblings, and am grateful for each day they are in my life because I always learn some new eternal truth. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me these sweet blessings to guide my on this Earth. They are truly valiant spirits and I am so grateful that I know that they will be my family for eternity. 

God be with you till we meet again, 
Alyssa