Hey, Mrs. Wilson!

Other odes:
My mom
My dad

Okay, so I’ve kind of put this Ode to my Family thing on the back burner for a couple weeks, but tonight I decided to reward you for your patience.

Meet my brother

His name is Nick (sorry Teresa, NicH). He builds things. Things like a tree house, a hope chest, a baby change table, and more recently condos and town houses. This kid is amazing with his hands.

I am the oldest (and shortest) kid in my family. Nick comes next.

When we were growing up, Nick and I butted heads all the time. He drove me crazy, and I’m sure I drove him crazy.

It’s a good thing we were (are?) cute.

When we were little, I had the typical little kid syndrome. I thought my parents loved him more than they loved me. Obviously this was no fault of my parents (don’t worry mom and dad!), I think it’s just a phase every kid goes through.

Nick was always a rule breaker. We were told not to build a big tree fort in the sour cherry tree. Nick did anyway. We were told not to dig big holes in the back yard. Nick dug a huge one and made a pond. We were told one time not to buy hockey cards at the corner store. Nick did anyway and won about $2000 worth of hockey cards. I was peeved.

I also remember getting him in trouble. When we were 4 and 5 (ish?), I brought a blanket outside when we were playing. My mom came out to tell us to clean up and come in. She asked who brought the blanket out. We both denied it. She spanked both of us, Nick cried and I didn’t. She concluded that I had brought the blanket out. How do parents know these things?

In the last 7 years, we have gotten along wonderfully. We’ve also only seen each other once or twice a year in the last 7 years. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? That and the fact that he married an amazing woman and serves an even more amazing God. The two of them together have turned my annoying little brother into an amazing man.

He is now married to Teresa (the best woman ever for him) and has two little girls, Eva (2005) and Kaitlyn (2008). I get to go see him and meet his newest little girl in a couple weeks and I am totally stoked.

Nick, I love and respect you and I’m so proud of the man that you’ve become!