The Birthday Boy

Yesterday was my big brother's 37th birthday. He has had the joy of having me around for 27 of those year's.

Having one older brother is a blessing. I have been fortunate enough to grow up with two.

Today's blog is dedicated to the birthday boy who, whether he knows it or not, has had a huge impact on my life.

So brother, thanks for taking your role as a big brother seriously. I know that Aidan will learn to do the same for his little brother/sister as the years go by because he's got an awesome role model in his Dad.

As a big brother you never made me feel like a burden. In spite of the fact that there are 10 years between us you always made time for me.

Whether it was taking me around Dad & Patti's room to teach me the fine art of snooping for Christmas gifts (which, by the way, was how I found out there was no Santa Claus!) or allowing yourself to be humiliated in countless numbers of driveway basketball games, you made time with me a priority.

I have a love for movies because of you. Your passion for the flicks rubbed off on me.

I love sour gum balls because of you. The first time you brought home one of those giant containers of Tear Jerkers was one of the best days of my life! My taste buds have never been the same since.

I have a head full of useless knowledge because you showed me how much more fun life is when you don't fill your head full of "useful" things. I can't remember my wedding anniversary but I can pretty much recite every line from Major League-You may run like Mays but you hit like . . . anyways, moving on.

Speaking of baseball, it's true that baseball is a universal language. It's like the scene in City Slickers when they're talking about how baseball was the one thing they could always talk about. It's one of those things that you either love it or you hate it. You and I have always been on the extreme end of the love it scale. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if in 20 years we're a couple of fat guys attending a fantasy baseball camp in an attempt to recapture our glory years. "I'd run to first but I just pulled a fat swinging at that 30mph fastball." If we're not at a fantasy camp in 20 years, we'll still definitely be a couple of fat guys.

I have seen you grow and mature as a man, as a follower of Christ, and as a father. You challenge, encourage and inspire me constantly, even though there are 3000 km's between us.

I am so thankful to know that while we may not get to spend as much time together as we'd like in this life, we have the rest of eternity to look forward to.

I am proud of you. I am proud of the values and morals that you live by. I am proud of the passion and commitment with which you serve Christ with each and every day. I'm proud of the way you intentionally sit back on lazy fly balls so that you can sprint under them at the last second and make a spectacular sliding catch (H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D).

I am proud to call you my brother.

You are a good man and I pray that this year brings you incredible amounts of joy, success, growth and fulfillment.

Thank you for all that you have done for me and all that you continue to do.

Happy Birthday young man.