My big brother. The one I looked up too and the one I love so much. I always wanted to be with him. Maybe this is why. Looking up into his face as just a tiny baby while he fed me a bottle. Maybe because we were comrades in play as little children growing up. He made the best forts for us. We had so much fun. That is until he learned to read. ( lol ) We had forts under the Indian Soap Brush, down in the woods where an old cabin was. Up in the trees behind the trailer. We had the hogan under an old stump. That one was really cool. We lined it with bracken ferns and pretended we were indians.
Then when we were older he built an actual little cabin for us. We even had a real wood stove in it and had a Thanksgiving meal in it like we were pilgrims.
We also like to play cars and trucks together. We had a bank that we had a whole town carved into it. By taking our fingers and rubbing the dirt firmly, it made the little roads carved, turn hard and shiny like pavement. We played here by the hours.
One year we got new moccasins and we were so excited. We left for school early so we could see if we could walk silently like the indians did. Mama came along and picked us up soon.
As you can see here this is dad reading Kenny his lesson. Mama read it to us usually though. These are some of the memories that we have, worship time together. I think though I might have been to little to young to remember this one. But as we got older we played dress up a lot, after the Bible stories. We liked to act out the stories we learned together. I think our favorite one was queen Esther. There is something to be said about making sure you bring your children up to love the Lord and know the stories from the Bible. Thank you mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, and aunts and uncles for teaching us these stories.
Sabbath walks. Nature walks. We learned so much. I remember one in particular. We lived up in the Mountains of Northern Cali and mama took us hiking through the woods. We found so many different colored toadstools. We collected them all and laid them out and mama took a picture of our collection. I was pretty young but I think we looked up the different ones in the encyclopedia. But Kenny you would have to set me straight on that one.
We loved spending time at our grandparents too. I remember one visit in particular, when we were told not to play house in the woodshed. We loved playing in there. And eventually we found our way into the woodshed, and had set up house keeping. It sure didn't take us long to figure out why were not allowed to play in the there. YELLOW JACKETS!!!!! I think we learned our lesson.
I do not know how I could put in here a life time of memories I have shared with my sweet brother. But I do know this, he has a very tender and loving heart. I am so thankful that I got him for my big brother. I am so very blessed.
This was taken during the summer following my freshman year in Academy. We came out for church dressed nearly alike and so mama took our picture. I sure loved my big brother. This has always been one of my favorite pictures. This summer I went down to Cali. I had not seen my brother in awhile and I had lost a bunch of weight and grown up a bit. My brother was like wow that is my little sister and took me around and showed me off to his friends. Was a lot of fun.
My brother and his sweet wife Amy. Thank you for giving me a wonderful sister in law. I love you Amy.
One of my favorite photos of my brother and my nephew Jackson. I sure hate being so far away. I love you all so much.
Ken and my beautiful niece Jazzmyn. Growing up way to fast.
Ken and my oldest beautiful niece Jade.
Ken I am so proud of you. The way you have turned your life around. Nineteen years clean and sober. Helping others and putting their needs before your own. Being an awesome husband and father. And the best big brother that any sister could ever wish for. My only regret is not living closer so that our children could have grown up with the same sense of family that we had the privilege of knowing when we were young and growing up.
My all time favorite song to sing with you is Nearer Still Nearer. The harmony that we share in that song blends so beautiful. It is the prayer of my heart that each of us, Kenny, everyday is drawn nearer still nearer to our wonderful Heavenly Father. That we surrender ourselves and die daily to self. I want us both to be ready when Jesus comes in those clouds of glory. That together hand in hand we can meet mama. Thanking her for loving us no matter what we did. For teaching us the best she knew how to love Jesus. What a day that will be. Kenny you are always and forever in my heart and in my prayers. I hope that this birthday is filled with joy and love.
I miss you.
I love you.
Your baby sister
Shellie
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