Big Brother: Nicolas {up close and personal}

If you know my family well - the first thing you would probably notice is that "the kids" are best friends. One explanation for this is that we are all a year apart. My brothers have the same Birthday......June 8th. Nicolas was born in 1990, and Jacob in 1994. We grew up doing absolutely everything together and it didn't really feel like there was an age gap between us.

Inseparable. That is how I see us, and that is how many people see us. Just last night I was told..."I couldn't imagine you four not together." That's just it. We haven't really ever been apart. Sure - I've been on a week vacation before. Just last year my sister and I went to Texas, and upon arriving home we found that my brothers painted a special message on our bedroom walls. It said "WELCOME HOME! WE LOVE YOU!!!!" Valerie and I kept it up for 2 months. We just couldn't paint over it. :) But that is it, we have only ever been separated for those one week increments. Those rare vacations that we are separated.

I am so thankful that my mother always stressed how important it was for us to be friends. Friends meant more than the typical friend. We have spent hours talking about feelings, secrets, beliefs, morals, challenges, and the list goes on and on..... I can probably bet that us "kids" have talked more together, and about weirder subjects and deeper issues than any other siblings normally do. Hands down.

These people are my best friends.

Well, I had to give you all a bit of background before I told you the real purpose of this blog post. :) Obviously at some point in my life, there will have to be a change. I mean, it would be weird if us four siblings lived in the same house......forever. {now that I think about it.....Jacob mentioned that when we are in our 80s we should move into the same nursing home....wouldn't that be fun!?!?!?} Okay. Seriously. We won't be in our 30s living together. And I need to remember that.

Just yesterday, my older brother was accepted for an internship with CollegePlus! in Washington State! Would you like me to say that again? Washington State. {that is a 19 hour drive away.} I am sooooper excited for him! He will have the rest of his education paid for, as well as get paid hourly to be an intern! But the other part of me cringes. It is SOOO far away! Too far. It wouldn't matter so much if it wasn't so long. He will be gone for eighteen big months.

Man o man will I miss him. Nic is my older brother....that amazing guy who I can hide behind when I need protection. The guy who loves to have "study dates" with me at the library. {we tend to sing our special song together in the car.....loud.}  We have mutual frozen yogurt taste buds that we tend to spontaneously feed. Just today he came up to me and asked if he could clean the bathroom with me - just to be with me. :) Oh, and let's not forget the "hand delivered fresh-squeezed orange juices" just.for.me. I am so incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful brother. Man o man will I miss him.

In 2 weeks, he will be packed and driving to the far away land called Washington. Until that day, I am doing "a picture a day" challenge with him. :) Below you can see a couple that I have already taken. I loooove looking at them.

Aaaaaand. I just had to add some older pictures. Because I love looking at us together. :)

So there you have it. I normally don't post this 'up close and personal' ...but I will definitely enjoy looking back on this post in days, weeks, and years to come and remember my wonderful big brother that my amazing God blessed me with. For almost 20 years!

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