Memory Monday - My brother Tom

Today is my little brother's birthday.

Tom is not quite 2 years younger than me, so as kids growing up, we were always pretty close. We grew up in a small town in Utah. This allowed for lots of time to play together and find fun adventures to do outside. We have two older sisters as well. Emily played a lot with us too, but Jenni, she was too mature to play with the rest of us. Sorry, Jenny, we always gave you such a hard time. I'll have to blog more about her on her birthday. I love you Jenni!

I still remember when my brother threw a croquet ball at my head. He still claims to this day that it didn't happen. But I know it did. I also remember the day I was chasing him in the playground during recess and I ran right into a bar and knocked myself to the ground. He always has had better vision then me, he ducked under the bar. I also remember the time we were playing at the park by a see saw. His end was up in the air and my end was down on the ground. Without warning he brought his end down which caused my end to come up and smack me in the mouth breaking one of my teeth. I made him dig through the sand looking for my missing tooth. We never found it. I also remember sick days home from school. Sometimes we would both stay home from school. Both my parents worked and we would end up staying home together and having more fun than too sick kids should be allowed to have.

Tom was always a good friend to me at home and at school. When I was a senior and he was a sophmore I sort of skipped school a few times. Maybe only once or twice. (har har) On more then one occasion (only once or twice) Tom would come out to the school parking lot to get our car to go to lunch with his friends, but his bratty older sister had taken it. It seems like I always made sure he had a ride home at least. Now if that isn't love I don't know what is!

When our parents got divorced it was hard on Tom and me. The older girls were away at school already and Tom and I sort of had to step up and take care of Mom. He was a great brother and a great son. He still loved me even when I didn't treat him as well as an older sister should. He stuck by me despite my foolish, pig headed ways. Even when it meant watching me make choices that weren't the best and not being able to keep me from doing it.

We served missions at the same time. He left in January and I left in September of the same year. Our missions were very close to eachother. I served in Pennsylvania and he served in Virginia. I wrote to him more than he wrote to me, but his letters really meant a lot to me. I saw my baby brother grow up a lot and I couldn't be prouder of him.

After his mission Tom went back to school and earned his teaching degree. He now teaches physics and chemistry. What I want to know is when did he get so smart and why didn't he help me with my homework? From what I hear he is a great teacher. The kids are lucky to have him.

Now he is also an awesome husband and father,
not to mention he is still not a half bad brother.

Happy Birthday Tom, I love you!!