Thanks, sister.

Ie Ling
my overflowing spirituality,
Thank you for keeping me company while my sweetheart was away,
for loving my children, who happen to adore you,
for blushing at Gilbert Blythe with me,
for helping me organize my storage closet
and under my sink,
for letting me fill your tummy with whole wheat,
flax seed,
and salad dressed with lemon juice,
and for painting Mei Li's fingernails
three times
and her toenails once.

Ie Mei,
our overflowing joy,
We wish you could have been there.
JOY,
our second mother,
homemaker extraordinaire,
receiver of our daily phone calls,
giver of reassurance
and eternal perspective
and recipes,
calm and peaceful,
and full of love.
We love you, JOY.

I love you, sisters.