It's been 5 years...

Well, this is a difficult post for me. It has been 5 years since we lost Michael, my brother. I just can't even begin to try to put into words what he meant to me. I'd be here for hours, and it would still be inadequate. So...I'm going to share two of my favorite pictures of me & him. I would guess the first one was taken in 1981 in Disneyland, maybe? Mom, maybe you know? Obviously, the second one is more recent.

Anyway, I just think that I was so blessed to get to grow up with Michael, and he impacted my life in more ways than I could list. I miss him much.

Shortly after we lost Michael, I was shopping and came across a card of some sort that was intended to be given to a brother...I don't know the occassion. Anyway, though cheesy, what it said really embodied how I felt at the time and still do to this day. It reads as follows:

To My Wonderful Brother

There have been many times in our lives

when we have seemed to be in different worlds.

We are very different in many ways,

but we are also much the same in others,

which is to be expected.

But the most important fact remains:

you can call me at a moment's notice, and I will drop everything to come to you.

I love you more than I could ever tell you,

and I consider myself very lucky that you were born to be my brother.

You are a wonderful gift given to me by God,

and like so many other gifts we receive,

I sometimes forget to be thankful for you.

I'd like you to know that I could never have chosen a more wonderful brother,

and I love you more than you'll ever know.