The Wedding Party: Kayla Wade

It is finally time for me to tell y'all about my perfect maid of honor, my sister Kayla. Kayla and I are 16 months, 2 weeks, and 3 days apart. We are as close to twins as any sisters who aren't twins can get. As small children, I was her real-life baby doll. I would follow her anywhere, say anything she told me to, and do anything she instructed (I still do...). We have home videos of someone asking me what I got for Christmas, and I started to tell them and Kayla put her hand up and said, "Hush Morgan, let me tell it." That is an accurate depiction of my life with Kayla Wade as my sister. We shared a room until our oldest sister went to college when Kayla was 10 and I was 9, so we have spent a good deal of our lives being attached at the hip. Growing up, we fought like cats and dogs. I have a vivid memory of Kayla and me rolling around on the floor fighting, and she stuck her big toe in my eye and almost blinded me. I'm sure she has equally embarrassing fight stories she could tell you about me. There is no one on the planet who can get on my nerves like Kayla can. However, as we've gotten older, we have become best friends, and I can say wholeheartedly that there is nothing more special than having a sister who is your best friend. She thinks she loves me more because she has loved me as long as I've lived, but really I love her more because I've loved her my whole life. There is no one in the world like Kayla to me, and I can't even begin to explain what it means to me to have her as my maid of honor.

There are two stories that I knew I wanted to share in Kayla's post because they are both so dear to my heart. Some background for the first story: One of the only things I had ever really done without Kayla was join a youth group. It was so different for me to be somewhere she wasn't, but I desperately wanted her to be. For almost two years straight, any time any of the youth leaders would ask for prayer requests, I asked if we could pray that my sister would come to know Jesus. I consistently prayed that prayer until one day Kayla came to an event a local ministry was having in Ocean Isle Beach. She was waiting for some of her friends to get to the beach, but she didn't know how long it would be before they got there. Looking back now, it was definitely God's hand at work. Kayla and I sat and listened to the speaker talk and at the end of his message, he asked if there was anyone who hadn't accepted Christ as their Savior that felt the pull on their heart to do so. I look over, and Kayla was raising her hand. There are few words that could describe that moment for me and I know even more so for her. Kayla accepted Christ that day, and to this day, it is one of the biggest milestones in my walk with Jesus because He showed how faithful He is to answer prayers in His perfect time. So not only is Kayla my sister by blood, she is also my sister in Christ, and I am overjoyed to know that even when our time on Earth is done, we get to spend an eternity walking the streets of gold and sitting at the feet of Jesus together. Her faith is a blessing to me, and I am so proud of the Godly woman that she has become.

This second story is a testament to my statement in the first story about us never really doing things separately growing up. That was still the case when it came time for college. Kayla is a grade ahead of me, so she moved to Wilmington to attend UNCW when I was a senior in high school. My first choice school was Campbell University, and I just knew I was definitely going to end up there. Through God's providence once again, I ended up having to go to my second choice school... none other than UNCW. Kayla and I decided it would be nice to save some money and move into an apartment together when I came to Wilmington, and that is exactly what we did. It was almost like we were little girls again because we had to share a room that first year. For the remainder of Kayla's time in college we lived together (but not in the same room because we almost killed each other... lesson learned). I do not regret a second of the time Kayla and I got to spend living together outside of our parents' home. College has been a life-changing experience for me, and it makes it even more worthwhile that I got to share that experience with my sister across the "hall." This is the second year in my whole life that I've ever lived without her, and I miss her OCD, sassy behind every day. Of all the things I am most thankful for, the thing that tops the list is that Kayla has lead the way for me most of my life but always knows the perfect time to step aside and let me soar on my own.

Kayla has a true servant's heart. If you couldn't tell from some of my descriptions of her already, she has a few OCD tendencies. Things have to be perfectly clean and straight and organized all the time. It's really an endearing quality 😉. It's through these habits that I see her service the most. She is always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. Kayla is a kindergarten teacher, and she is a beloved part of her school family. I have met several of her co-workers who all just sing her praises when they find out I'm her sister. She displays the truest form of love and passion in her classroom, and I am so proud of the hard work and dedication she has put in this first year. It takes a person with a servant's heart to work in the teaching field, and Kayla genuinely excels at it. She is outspoken and fiercely protective of the people she loves (especially me). She has a kind heart and is always forgiving of others. She is the person I look up to the most in my life, and she has always been a good role model for me. I admire her goodness, her strength, and her goofiness, and I will always want to be just like her.

As my sister, Kayla has known all of my crushes, my "puppy loves," and my two boyfriends. She has heard all the late-night phone calls that Al and I have shared and has really had a front-row seat to our relationship all these years. She and Al love each other just like brothers and sisters do, and it makes me so happy to see their relationship. Kayla is always brutally honest with Al, which we both expect nothing less from her. She wants the very best for both of us and is always the first to say how much she believes in us. I know she and Al talked a lot while he was planning the proposal, and she played a huge role in making the surprise a success. She is always willing to listen to any ideas I have and wants me to have anything I want for our big day. She is the best maid of honor there is, and I am so lucky to have her as one of my right-hand girls during this time. This will be the first thing in our lives that I'll get to lead the way for her instead of the other way around, and I cannot wait for that time to come one day. I couldn't ask for a better maid of honor, friend, or sister than her.

Kayla, you are the biggest piece of my soul. I owe so much of what I know to you - my talking skills, my social skills, my life skills - it's all because of you. You impact my life in ways you don't even know. It is the greatest honor of my life to have you stand by my side as my maid of honor. You and Courtney are two of the best parts of my life, and I wouldn't trade either of you for anything in the world. I hope you always have the courage to go where life leads you, as long as it isn't too far from me. My favorite compliment is when people tell me I look, act, or sound like you... I don't think there's a better compliment in the world. Thank you for always being my eyes and holding my hand when I am too scared to walk alone. Because of you, I will always have a friend and for that I am eternally grateful. I love you to the ends of the earth, my sweet sissy!