In honor of my brother.

I can't believe that yesterday marked the first fifteen years of my brother's life. It seems like just yesterday that I was stepping in his baby drool (he always left a trail wherever he crawled), racing his Hot Wheels down the hallway, or sliding down the stairs in a pillow-stuffed sleeping bag. We used to be so young. Where did the years go? We still bicker and argue and wrestle (and I still win), but I have to look up to tell him that now because he's a strapping, 6 foot 3 inch teenager. He's not a little boy anymore.

When he was born, I used to think about what it would be like in six years, when I was 12 and he was 6, or what it would be like in ten years, when he was 10 and I was 16. It was always hard to imagine how we would look and what we would do, but I knew one thing for sure: he was my precious little brother and I would always love him like crazy, no matter how old we were. Now that I'm almost 21, and he's 15, that little boy has become a young man who I still love (even in his adolescent moments). He's also become more than just my brother and a young man; he's become a friend. Of course, like any good friend, he makes me laugh, gives me good advice, and drives me nuts, but I wouldn't trade him for anything. ;)

So, Isaac, if you're reading this, I want you to know how proud I am of you. With a strong and caring spirit, you stand up for those that others put down and protect those who are weaker than you. You are sensitive and compassionate, seeking out ways to help those around you with a servant's heart. You even use your sense of humor to lighten the mood in difficult and tense situations. You are growing into a man of strong character, Isaac, and strength of character is infinitely more valuable than any amount of muscle you can build. :) I admire you, I love you, and I thank God for the fifteen years I've been blessed to spend with you. I look forward to many more. <3