Not everyone is lucky enough to spend nearly every day of their life with one of their best friends. . . but I am.

Not everyone is blessed with a brother that pursues the same interests and loves the same God. . . but I am.

Not everyone has someone who can read their thoughts and finish their sentences. . . but I do.

Here's to twenty-one years with the best brother ever. . . here's to you, Will.

First there were scattered memories that are not memories at all, just proof that we lived and breathed in the same world, and more than that, that we were children of the same parents. . .

Then the memories, the real ones, begin to surface slowly. . .

. . . until finally we have dates for those memories and more to go on than just pictures.

2003: when imagination was enough to keep us happy

2004: when we were still building blackberry forts and playing in the barn

2005: when we moved to the Kropf house and had a whole new world in the woods to explore

2006: when we spent more time outside than inside, most often with a camera

2007: when we started being friends at school as well as at home

2008: when we became best friends

2009: when we decided we loved hiking

2010: when we started to grow up

2011: when we hiked Mt. Thielsen (need I say more? 🙂 )

2012: when we lived one of the best years of our life

2013: when we discovered we had a neighbor 🙂

2014: when everything started changing. . . be it from Bible school, dating, or too much disc golf 😉

The beautiful thing about the past is its abundance of moments and memories that might fade but that will never die. The beautiful thing about the future  is that it is moments and memories just waiting to happen.

And the beautiful thing about the present is that it is just that. It is now, and we get to live it.

Things change; they have to. Changes keep life interesting. They help us grow. But through all the changes, one thing won't change: I love you, bro. No matter what.

Happy Birthday, AJ. Here's to many years of amazing times behind us. . . here's to hoping we have as many more ahead. . .

"For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14