Mi hermano

Today is a very special day. Today is my baby, little, younger brother's 24th birthday. It's a little insane if you ask me. Stephen isn't a 24 year old to me, he's still that blond boy that taught me football, how to tackle, played Jurassic Park with me, made up dances to 5ive with me, "sold" rocks using a questionable sales tactic, and rode bikes motorcycles all over the neighborhood. He's still the boy that I would trade "heater spots" with so he could play Super Nintendo before we left for school. The boy who usually had one sock sort of on (usually with a hole) and butter and jam smiles. The boy who wrangled up his best friends to beat up the 5th grader that called me a mean word (the boy that got his larger friend to sit on this boy until he apologized). Yup he's still the boy in his optimist football uniform, his AAU basketball uniform. Still the boy who not only knows some of my embarrassing moments but was usually there laughing at me when they happened.
But, he grew up into a man. He grew from a cute jock into a handsome musician, artist, and a bit of a football nerd still. He grew up to be part of the 3-man crew that showed me that it was going to be impossible to settle because they had set my expectations so high. He grew to be one of my best friends. One of the people I cried to, cried with, laughed with, dreamed with, and one of the people that will always melt my heart no matter how mad he makes me.
He's my little brother. He's not actually little but he'll always be my Stephen Timothy. I have a lot of great childhood memories and since Stephen is the closest to my age, most of them involve him. He was my greatest playmate.
So Stephen, on your birthday, I wish you happiness, peace, and the creativity to achieve those. Don't sell yourself short. Dream big and press hard after them. I'm excited to see what God has planned for you this year. I know one thing, there's a new little girl that you are going to protect. Little Meemo is going to have the best uncle in the world to look after her and teach Ollie how to weed out those dumb boys that are most surely going to be following her around. This year is going to be awesome, I can tell :)
I love you baby brother and happy 24th birthday :)