Happy Belated Birthday, Hyrum!

My brother, Hyrum, is 18 months older than me.
Yesterday, he turned 37 years old...(that seems quite old to me, my brother!)

When we were very young, I believe we added a few gray hairs to my mother's head.
Although I was younger, I seemingly tagged along in numerous hair-raising antics that I am sure my mastermind brother came up with.
There was the climb up the homemade ladder on my dad's family farm in Duncan (with rungs about 18 inches apart) when we were 3 years and 18 months respectively.
Reportedly, we were sitting on the very steeply pitched roof of the farmhouse looking at the cows a couple of fields over.
I've also heard about the tea party with baby aspirin.
I remember the tree climbing, the spins in the dryer as we re-enacted the carnival, tossing a full soda bottle back and forth until I ended up with a huge knot on my forehead, and many days exploring things at Grandma's house.

In high school, I depended on him for advice, especially when it came to boys.
I could talk long into the night about who did what and always respected his opinion.

It was odd for me to be the oldest at home when he left for college in Indiana...(holy mackrel, that was a long way from home!), and even odder when he was gone for 2 years on his mission to Tampa, Florida.

I'm sure it was quite the change for him to attend the junior college I had just finished at when he returned from his mission.
I had lived for years being "Hyrum's sister", but I think for him, it was the first time people had known me first.
It was there that he met his wife and married her in 1992.

He and his family have always made great efforts to visit us on a regular basis...which is so nice for us.
They live in Plano, Texas, and so far, we just haven't been able to swing a trip out there.
It has become a summertime tradition for them to come and stay with our family and make some memories together.

I'll always be grateful for the path he forged through high school, and how he helped me find myself.
I miss the long talks we used to have...
Funny how growing up and having a family changes the focus from your siblings to your own immediate family.

Thanks for being my big brother and always seeing the good in me!!
Happy birthday, my brother!