a brother's heart.

 fall 2008 : Tyler 3, Benjamin 21 months

"Do you need the healing medicine?"
Words spoken by the oldest brother.  Concern and care etched in the tenderness of his tone.  Behind the wrestling and the rough-housing, my boys have a soft side.

I am sorting and organizing my photographs, as the sky is darkening around me.  This is a job that takes forever and yet, I feel this strong pull to get it done.  As I was clicking through the photographs of 2007,  I heard the above words drift up the stairs.

Brother taking care of brother.

I am in awe at the little men my boys are becoming and completely surprised at how fast seven years has disappeared.  Memories are what remain, along with the photographs that tell a story.

I want our story to be a good one, no a great one.  My only control to our story lies in how I tell it.  To accept what life will bring with the tides and spin a fascinating tale.  One that says, I lived.  I loved.  And I soaked up every single minute of it.  

As I sort through the photographs of my life, of the life of my children, our story unfolds.  I know not yet what the next page will read.  I once believed that I wanted a perfect life.  A perfect story.  With a perfect home and perfect everything.  Now I know that is not so.  I want a rich life, overflowing with so much goodness and love, that the memories are almost tangible.

I want my boys to remember my smile.  The way I scooped them up and kissed their fears away.  I want them to remember how I loved and lived with my whole soul.  And that I did it for them.  For us.

Happy Friday friends!  Go out and live your story!