Happy Birthday Marshall

I love that I have known Marsh his whole life. Before he was born, I was so excited to have a new baby in our family and to see what a little brother was like. Babysitting Marshall allowed me to learn tons of useful baby skills, and feel more like an independent, grown-up sibling in our family. I relished the times I could make him rice cereal, swing with him in the yard, change him into his sweet, baby-blue clothes or his soft, cuddly jammies, and hold him and smell his sweet baby smell. He made me fall in love with babies, and then toddlers, and then children as I watched him grow through each phase. I am 8 years older which is enough distance to feel older and really appreciate his sweetness and laugh at his silliness. I will always remember how much joy and happiness our littlest brother brought into our home.

Marshall has an insatiable thirst for knowledge that is totally contagious. He is a fun uncle who will build Legos, climb into forts and race through the yard with his nephews (who absolutely adore the attention and his youthful energy). He is passionate, and totally and completely loves the things he loves (i.e. Tolkien, the founding fathers, Kansas and other classic rock bands, Ruth Ann's rolls, 24, etc...) I love that Marshall took a huge leap of faith in joining the swim team his senior year of high school. Now he is like a fish and happiest when he is in the water, testing his endurance and strengthening his body. I absolutely love Marshall when he is giddy or silly--he makes me laugh so hard that I cry like crazy and my face hurts from so much smiling.

Marshall and I have actually gotten to know one another more than we ever have before in the past year or so and it has been such a blessing in my life. Because of Marshall, I have learned about faith, honesty, character, prayer, and love in ways I never expected, but definitely needed in my life. He has such a good heart yet he doesn't always see how radiant, sincere and uplifting he can be. I have laughed out loud at his stories about finding classes as a freshman on campus and quietly cried as he's borne his testimony at Lake Powell or through simple emails to the family. He still has so much of his life ahead of him and I am thrilled for the possibilities and opportunities that are his. Happy Birthday Marsh--I love you.