Li'l Bro

I had an amazing bonding time with Stefan yesterday. He's almost a different person now, but still has the same silly inquisitiveness, loveliness, and intelligence that I recognize from a year ago. It's just a little more controlled and grown up now. I used to take it for granted that we speak the same love language, now I really cherish and appreciate it. He's always touching, punching, tackling, bumping, biting, hugging. Ha ha.

There are lots of good things going on in my family, healing, forgiveness, change. We all seem to be going through it differently, and at different levels. But I do know it is happening, and that is encouraging.

I can hardly believe how big he is. When he came to the gym after getting picked up at the airport, I gave him a big hug and had to raise up on my tip-toes to get my chin over his shoulder. Weird. While I was teaching I'd catch him in my peripheral vision and double take. Who is this strange person in my gym? Little brother.... uh yeah. Though, I don't care if he is six feet tall, he'll never stop being my little brother.

I am officially the smallest sibling... again.

Yesterday Stefan and I spent some hard-core quality time together.

Snuggling on the couch, reading the Fellowship of the Ring out loud.

Eating shawarma from the Hallava Falafel Trailer with CrossFit peeps.

Going downtown with Bethany and the little blond angel and walk around the Pacific Place mall.

Lululemon.

Classic Toy Store with real windup toys.

Bethany drops us off at the theater where we watch Inception (freaking trip, best Christopher Nolan yet).

Hanging out in Starbucks a little.

We get sucked into Barnes & Noble against our will, where I get high off the smell of books.

I buy Paradise Lost, and Le Comte de Monte Cristo.

We walk to Bethany's house to chill, help her clean her house and make dinner.

Some more out loud reading of Lord of the Rings.

Stefan takes me through his facebook friends, telling me one interesting thing about each of them.

We pray together and talk about good things.

I've missed him.