Oh Brudder!

So this weekend I was going through some of my older posts and I realized that I have written about why I love each member of my family....except my brother. Since that didn't seem very fair or nice of me here are some reasons why I love my brother.

1. I appreciate that when I would have anxiety attacks and when I was being a hypochondriac he was always very nice and understanding and would check my heart rate and bp for me.
2. He is the epitome of hard work. Career and academics.
3. Yes, you were mean when you picked on me and broke my leg, but I still appreciate that you were meaner to Christina than you were to me. :)
4. Though I've never experienced this you always say you're willing to beat up bad boyfriends.
5. You picked me up from the train station and helped me unpack for May term.
6. Even though you had to work on my high school graduation you did try your hardest to be there by making your partner come to graduation with you.
7. You actually missed a lot of important moments in my life like my confirmation but you always showed your love in a card and gave me however much money you could afford to give me.
8. You help make beautiful children. :)
9. You let me be a part of your wedding (aka the most important moment of your life). :)
10. You are a wonderful provider and role model for your family.
11. You were willing to drive me to dance class and go with me to the Fox Theatre to see SYTYCD when no one else could and you didn't even live at Mom and Dad's anymore.
12. You take responsibility for your mistakes. Very admirable. :)
13. You always wanted a career that was exciting and helped people and you never gave up on that. You would take anything you could get.
14. You always tried to help me work things out for myself and not depending on you to do it.
15. Growing up and looking up to you I learned what I should do and what I should NOT do.
16. Besides the heart rate and bp you would try and fix other minor problems I had.
17. You're good to Mom and Dad. You'll take very good care of them when they're old. :)
18. When teachers knew that you were my older brother it could get me bonus point. :P
19. You work well with what you have.
20. Despite me being annoying to you, you love me anyway.

I don't have any pictures of Tim and I together so I'll use him and Grace because the picture's adorable anyway.

Avery Olivia

So this blog is kinda...way way late, but better late than never. Before Grace was born I blogged about the things I wanted to make sure she knew by the time she grew up. Seeing as how it's only fair and I want Avery to know these as well, I've made her a list too. Some will be the same as Grace's, others I've learned in the past 2 years that I feel are more important and should be added.

1. You are oh so VERY LOVED and don't ever forget that for even a moment.
2. "Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of us."-Rabindranath Tagore
3. "Inhale grace. Exhale gratitude."-Dr. Scott Johnson
4. "We cannot change our past, but we can learn to see our past from God's perspective."-Charles R. Swindoll. always forgive...yourself and others.
5. "Wherever you go, go with all your heart."-Confucius. Don't be afraid to leave home if that means following your heart.
6. "It is never too late to be what you might have been."-George Elliot. Don't give up on life. Yes, it's going to suck sometimes, but it takes more strength and courage to live than it does to die.
7. "To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."- e.e. cummings. Don't ever change because of somebody else's standards. Change for yourself.
8. "Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder."-rumi. There will be times where you're going to be angry as hell and you'll want to run your mouth off, but don't do it...take some time to think about it first.
9. Be patient. Be kind. "Not all scars show, not all wounds heal. Sometimes you can't always see, the pain someone feels." "Stop judging people because they sin differently than you."
10. Don't push people away. "In the shelter of each other we will live....God has given us each other."
11. "Jesus, help me to see that I am someone worth dying for" You are a Unique Child of God and He Loves you very much. Your life matters. It's what has kept me here.
12. Listen to and obey your parents. They love you and most of the time the advice they give you is pretty legit.
13. Take pride in your accomplishments and celebrate every achievement.
14. "Know who you are. Accept who you are. Be who you are."-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
15. Yes, it's true there will be times when your sister will not want to play with you and she'll be  angry and annoyed with you. Don't take it personally.
16. "Being rich in money and things doesn't last. Being rich in the Lord and people last forever."-Grampy Troup
17. God never answers "No"
18. The greatest gift you can give a person is your time.

I can't wait to see you learn and grow up into a beautiful, smart, faithful, loving young woman. You're going to do great things!

My niece/goddaughter Avery Olivia born Sept. 7, 2012