Be Thankful on Paper: My Big Brother
This post was written on November 4th, 2010Rachel, over at No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane is hosting “Be Thankful on Paper” this November. I love a handwritten letter. Recently I discovered that Tween had no idea how to address an envelope and I nearly cried. But why would he know? The majority of people don’t send handwritten letters anymore… not even Christmas cards! And you know how I feel about that.
So, for the next several weeks I will be mailing a letter to 4 people letting them know why I’m thankful for them, and including a snippet of it here on my blog. Two of the four read my blog so I hope they know that the letters are sincere…. not just a way to get blog traffic or new followers.
To kick this off I wrote to my brother. He knows me better than anyone else next to Sugar Daddy. And it wasn’t difficult at all to think of why I’m thankful for him.It is always tough for me to write about my brother without getting choked up. He is rolling his eyes right now, I just know it.
When we were kids he was the nice brother. Sure, we argued and at times said we hated each other, but for the most part we got along. He played school with me, he was the teacher grading my pretend spelling tests. We were so different. But had a common tie; our childhood.
As adults he is now one of my best friends, and still have very little in common except for our parents (and sometimes we question even that… just kidding Mom!). I’m a work at home mom living in the middle of suburbia in the Midwest; using too many plastic sacks and driving everywhere I go. He is a big city San Francisco resident with no children but a thriving social life; conserving energy & using his legs to get him from place to place. But we “get” each other. Even though he doesn’t necessarily agree with certain views I have, he still gets me. And for that I am thankful.
He is an amazing uncle to my three children. When his money and vacation time could be spent on places MUCH more exciting than Nebraska, he comes here to hang out with his nephews and niece. This past summer he spent a week entertaining Teen & Tween in California… they had an amazing time thanks to his patience & fun spirit. When so many other family members have slipped away (not by death… but my choice), he has remained a constant in my children’s lives. And for that I am thankful.
Also, he introduced me to Peet’s coffee… what could possibly top that?!
Now go spend some time checking out more thankful posts!
November 4th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Awesome! What a blessing. So happy I could read your post! See you next week:) (also often because I love your blog!)
November 4th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Thank you for sharing about your brother. My sister and I are completely different, but share that common thread of family and childhood.
November 4th, 2010 at 10:55 am
I really connected to this post. I used to be so close to my brother and once upon a time it was very similar to what you are writing here. It’s so beautiful to be close to a sibling because as you write, often the only thing you have in common are your shared parents. I too love the style and design of your blog as well as your warm writing. I’ll return often.
SugarMama Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Sorry to hear that you are not close to him anymore…. I pray that my brother and I are always there for each other. And thank for the compliment of the blog, it’s like my little home on the internet, and I love spending time here.
)
November 4th, 2010 at 11:29 am
ahhhhhh… I don’t have a brother, but you make is sound amazing! I guess, I will settle for my sister… just kidding my sis is awesome!
SugarMama Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
I have 2 brothers (only close to the one) and never had a sister. I always wondered what it would be like. To this day I’m more comfortable around guys (nice guys) than I am a big group of women. Having a great brother IS amazing!
November 4th, 2010 at 11:32 am
How awesome to have a brother you get along with. My brother and I are similar…two different states, two toally different lifestyles, but when we’re together we’re two peas in a pod!
SugarMama Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Yeah, that’s how we are… we finish each other’s sentence and even when it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other we pick right up where we left off.
November 4th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Funny how you can have NOTHING in common, but the blood that runs through you, and Love… that’s often how i feel with my siblings. Cheers for brothers!
SugarMama Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
He has made me realize how important it is to have people unlike myself in my life… to be surrounded by others that have the exact same interests as me would be very boring indeed! He shows me a different perspective to several things.
November 4th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
You make me miss my “Brear”! Great letter!
SugarMama Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by!
November 4th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
What a wonderful thing to be thankful for, a brother. And even more so a great uncle. Coming from a large family, there are connections that I cherish and some I wish I had.
I am thankful for reading this today!
Amy
PS
Thanks for the bloggie lovin.
SugarMama Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
My kids having such an awesome uncle is very important to me. We have a large family, but my brother is the closest to all of us by far!
November 4th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
I have a wonderful relationship with my brother too. A good sibling is a true gift from the Lord.
SO happy you shared this!!
My love,
R
November 4th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Isn’t that so funny yet true, that today’s youth probably wouldnt’ know how to address an envelope. I had never even thought of that. And yet, I spent my youth with a host of penpals.
Your gratitude towards your brother is really heartwarming. Made me think of my brother in a different like, helped me to give him credit where it is due.
Great post!
November 5th, 2010 at 11:01 am
This is such a sweet post! How great it is to hear about such a close brother/sister relationship
It’s so wonderful to hear about all of these lovely posts and to see how thankful everyone is and in what way. Thank you for sharing!!
~Andrea
November 8th, 2010 at 4:26 am
Thanks for sharing about your brother – it was beautiful. I have often wondered what it would be like to have a brother, although I do have a fantastic BIL.
I love reading your blog and can’t wait for your next installment
SugarMama Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Having a brother is pretty freakin’ awesome IF you two get along. Otherwise it’s just like any other annoying family member. ;o) Thanks for visiting!