Fourteen years ago I came home to North Carolina after an 18-month mission to the Colorado Denver North Mission. My youngest brother, Aaron, was 5 years-old at the time. Look how cute he is in this picture (bonus that everyone else looks so rough - sorry guys):

He didn't remember me much even though I'd spent the time I had between semesters at Ricks College taking him to the park, Talkin' Bell (Taco Bell), drawing trains in the driveway with chalk, playing hide-and-seek with him and Allyn (remember when Allyn hid on top of the fridge like Endora from Bewitched and Aaron didn't see her, but I was laughing so hard I almost died?). When I got home I was just another girl in the house to little Aaron. But, there was something... I'd sent him a sweatshirt with a map of Colorado on it for Christmas in 1995. Once we got home from the airport I sat in the living room showing everyone pictures from my mission and telling stories. (Mom pointed to a picture of Brian and said, "Who is THAT?!" It probably wasn't the picture I put in here, but this one makes me laugh. That elder had no idea what he was doing with a barbeque. Look at Brian supervising like a pro. Brian's the one on the far right holding a can of Sprite. Not the Dwight Shrute look-alike in the background holding a can of Sprite.) Aaron appeared in the doorway (it was late June in North Carolina, btw) wearing his Colorado sweatshirt. I like to think he loved me, but he didn't know why. He also took my word for it that he had to give me a hug every day. I'd been home for a few weeks and hadn't seen him one day. It was very late one night when he knocked on my door and said, "Nini, you haven't given me a hug today." Sure he was probably trying to avoid going to bed, but little Aaron lives on in my mind as the sweetest little boy ever. (Then he became a teenager and... meh.)

Aaron is going on a mission himself in a few weeks. We went to watch him speak in Church last Sunday. He was well-spoken, funny, intelligent, full of a great spirit. It wouldn't take much to make me proud of him, but it was still nice that he blew me away. :)

Makenzie, Rob, Aaron, and Me on Mom and Dad's porch after church.

Ladies in the kitchen - Rhonda, Mom, Aunt Julie, Aunt Candace.

The Grandpas - Curtis and Lloyd.

Delicious Baby Claire in her Auntie Claire's arms.

My sweet husband helping my sweet Grandpa. Love feelings.

Aaron and his friend, Kade (check his pocket square) showing off the traditional "farewell" food.