dearest brother…

Dearest Josh,

You are the greatest brother a girl could ever ask for – just ask my sister, she’ll corroborate your amazingness ;). You are many things to many people: brother, son, nephew, friend, cousin, and now HUSBAND. You’re now a married man, and I’m so unbelievably happy for you and your new life. You and your bride deserve nothing but happiness and I truly wish you many, many years of wedded bliss.

Your love story is much like the rest of your life – you go after what you want and you do whatever it takes to make it work. And no matter what may come your way, you remain firm, steadfast, committed, and loyal. If you asked me what your greatest strength would be, that would be it. You’re LOYAL, and I, for one, am absolutely grateful for your loyalty. You show up for your family like clockwork, and we can always count on you to be there. Please know that we do not take this for granted! We may not say it as often as we should, but it means the world to us to have you to turn to, to have you to lean on and hold us up when we can no longer carry our own burdens.

In my absolute weakest moment of my entire life, your loyalty was the only thing that got me through to the next day, minute, hour, second. You showed up for me and took me into your home (quite literally), and though I’m sure I’ve told you a thousand times, it meant everything to me. When I had nowhere else to turn, in the dead of night, you showed up to whisk me away from the disaster I was facing and you cared for me. THANK YOU.

During the second most difficult time in my life, you were also there. Although you were a part of that devastating day, your loyalty played a huge part in how I got through it. Not once did you blame me or even question my actions. You loved me. ME, your flawed sister that is oftentimes loud and emotional and annoying. You showed up and stood steadfast in your love for me and in getting through that time. I know that day hurt you in ways I couldn’t even begin to fathom, and I know you know, but I’M SORRY. I’m sorry that you suffered that day and for so many days after that. I don’t know if it kept you from reaching any of your dreams, but if it did, I’m sorry. From the depths of my soul, I’m sorry. But the way you rallied from that terrible day is magnificent and astounding. You are resilient. You didn’t hate me. You loved me. THANK YOU.

You show up. Whether it be a family reunion, Christmas, Easter, a birthday celebration, or a weekend getaway to the lake, you go. You help set things up, clean things up, and celebrate. No matter what is asked of you, you do it. You show your support day in and day out, and we can always count on that. I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing it is to depend on your loyalty. I could try, but I’d come up miserably short.

I know we have our ups and downs, the moments where our moods don’t mix and we argue and get annoyed at each other, but you’ll forever be my brother. I’ll forever love you and also be loyal to YOU. I pray that you never doubt for a second that your loyalty is taken for granted or that you can’t count on your family showing their loyalty to you. Because we will always show up and be there for you when the going gets tough, when the days are dark, or when you just need to smile.

Josh, you’re loyal to your people, and I’m so thankful to be part of “your people” for the rest of my life!