Dear little brother,

From the day you were born I was blessed with a boy that will forever protect me and be on my side no matter what. Being young and full of life with so many friends, hobbies, thoughts, ambitions and loves, you probably fail to see the love I have for you as my best friend. Through all the hardships, sadness, depression, and lows I always know that no matter what, you have my back, you will never leave me, forget about me, or judge me for any silly mistake I make in life. I pray everyday for your life to be full of happiness, joy, bliss, light and color. Being a young woman with no husband, children or family of my own I see you as mine, my one and only companion whom I have always identified myself with and I know that no matter where life takes me, that will never change.

I recognize your eyes anywhere, your smile any place, and your voice from a mile away. I have never felt so protective over anyone in my life, let’s face it, people can do/say/hurt me in anyway they please in this life, but when it comes to hurting you, the entire ball game changes. I have never felt the unique overwhelming hurt and anger than I have when I know someone has hurt you, or made you feel inferior.

Your love for football, jacked up trucks, and fishing will light up a room on any given day and nothing makes me happier than knowing you found things in this usually cruel world that make you smile. No matter what attitude you bring to the table when you’re mad, no matter how many times you have pushed me away when I try to help, no matter how many times you have not wanted me around because it just isn’t ‘cool’ for your sister to be around, I know that on any given day you would go to bat for me no matter who posed the issue. When I was young I never really knew that the annoying, loud, rude person that lived in the next room over would hold such a huge piece of my heart one day when I grew up and finally realized you are the most important man that will ever be placed in my life.

I pray to God that the woman you marry one day knows how you like your eggs, knows how much you hate people that make corny jokes, knows how much you secretly love animals and girly music, knows how much you love chips on your sandwiches, knows how much you love fly fishing and big fluffy blankets, knows how to calm your rage and give you hope, and knows the blessing she has been granted when you entered her life. I hope she treats you like the genuine, wholesome, giving man that you are and always will be. I also pray that one day you can see yourself the way that I see you. There is so much in this world that I hope you get to see and experience, and I hope everyday you look in the mirror you see how important you are to so many people. I also want to thank you for all the meals you have bought me, the gas you have put in my car when I was broke, the times you have taken up for me with mom, all the secrets you have kept and promises you have locked, sealed and threw away the key. I also want to thank you for always keeping your word, changing the oil in my car, teaching me how to shoot a gun, telling me which guys to stay away from and which guys truly care about me, showing me how important I am, and understanding me in a way that no one else ever will.

There is truly no one else in this world that can understand my life, my family, my struggles, my weaknesses, my strengths and joys like you can. You have seen me at my absolute worst, and my absolute best and have never changed the way you look at me, and there is not another person I can say that about. There is truly no other person in this world who will love you the way your big sister does.

I hope and pray that all your dreams come true, all your goals are fulfilled and you look back on your life one day and can be proud of the generous, funny, unique, southern, kind man that you are - because I am.

Love always,

Your biggest fan