More 80s

One of the most influential people of my life, especially during the 80s, was...Molly Ringwald. PSYCHE!

This post is actually not dedicated to her, rather it is dedicated to my brother Aaron. Aaron is almost exactly three years older than I am. I still love and admire Aaron dearly and he is still handsome and super cool, but I am going to be referring to the past-tense Aaron here (seen above in the photo with me and my Mom. I was making a purse for my cabbage patch doll, Daniela Trudy).

I don't think that I can even come up with the words to express how important he was to me and what a big impact he made on my life during those crucial, formative years. Aaron was so super cool. He was always popular, always had tons of friends, and always had a lot of girls swooning over him. He was tall and always had a naturally great build. It was kind of embarrassing when I was a Freshman and he was a Senior in high school. I would overhear girls my age talking about how gorgeous he was. He played football and was very good. Yet he somehow always made me feel like I was one of the most important people in his life.

For some reason Aaron was always willing to let his little sister hang out with him and his friends. Actually, he was not just "willing", rather he went out of his way to "invite" me to be included. I don't just mean hanging out around the house. I mean he'd take me with him when his friends were going sledding or funjalating (shooting things at cars with one of the t-shirt launcher type things) or whatever it was. I remember when I was in second grade I was playing at the neighbor (Bridget's) house. Somebody came running to the door to tell me that I needed to come home and that there was a surprise for me. It was 5th grade Lagoon day. Somehow Aaron had procured an extra ticket and wanted to take me along with him and his buddies. What?! I remember that day, the excitement I felt, and the overwhelming joy as well as I remember any of my Christmases. Half a dozen of the oldest, handsomest and most awesome boys that Taylor Elementary had to offer and...me!

As a Freshman at my high school, I was having a really difficult time adjusting to the new life. But luckily my handsome brother was always there to give me confidence and to encourage me. Lunch time was the worst. I always had tons of friends in elementary and middle school but somehow none of my friends were in any of my classes or my lunch period when I got to high school. I remember that the whole first trimester I sat alone at lunch and felt terrified. (Don't cry. I made new friends in addition to the old.) One day at lunch I was alone and spilled ketchup all down the front of my shirt. I was so embarrassed as I came up the stairs and had to pass through the Jrs/Srs ONLY "rotunda". Aaron was sitting with some friends and immediately got up and came over to me. I didn't even say anything about my shirt before he was taking off his own (he had two layered) and said, "Here just wear this." You know that expression, "He's the type of guy that would give you his shirt off his back."? They were talking about Aaron.During high school Aaron would often come into my room after I was asleep. He would turn on the light to discuss with me his date or what he had done with his friends and ask my opinion. It got to the point that I almost felt uncomfortable if he didn't come in before bed to tell me what he had done that night.

Aaron taught me so many things. He taught me how to drive and he taught me how to hug (if somebody hugs you first, they should be the one to let go, not you) and that guy gives the tightest hugs of anybody I know. He taught me what was important in a friend and what didn't matter. He told me I was cool and that I was beautiful. He helped me run for school offices (and win). He let me drive his car at age 13 with my giggling friends. He made sure that I had a date on my 16th birthday. He had a very kind heart and taught me that it was NEVER cool to belittle or make fun of somebody. He also taught me how to disguise passport photos in case the need arises to create several identities.Most importantly, he taught me what it was like to feel a brother's love. I have six brothers and I love them all. Because of proximity and age, I am closer to some than others. I know that they love me and a girl couldn't be more blessed than to have these six guys love her. Aaron loved me and he also seemed to like me a lot.

One of the most memorable experiences was a simple but profound one. I remember sitting next to Aaron in church. He had his arm around me and, for some reason, was squeezing me really tight. It seemed like a lot of times he was just trying to pour all the good and all the strength that he could into my heart through his hugs. I felt such an overwhelming feeling of love for him. And then, an epiphany. I had an older brother who loved me unconditionally. Wait...if my earthly brother can love me this much, then maybe I can start to get an idea of how much my elder brother Jesus Christ might love me...It was the first time I could actually put the Savior's love into terms and feelings that I could truly comprehend.
While serving my mission in San Antonio, I had the opportunity to go to a missionary fireside with Elder Richard G. Scott. I sat on the front row in a regular sized chapel, so you can imagine how close I was. We were able to shake hands and I could feel such a strong spirit. He was supposed to speak to us for two hours but ended up speaking to us for four hours as we all sat eagerly and with tears in our eyes, begging him to tarry a little longer. Anyway, one of the things that Elder Scott told us was that sometimes the path to becoming like the Savior may seem really long and hard. Sometimes it may seem too difficult to become like him. What he suggested is that we choose heroes to put in front of us along that path. And as we strive to become like those heroes of ours, we will gradually move closer and closer to the Savior.

I have been abundantly blessed to be surrounded by heroes in my life. This post goes out to you, my brother, my hero, who taught me what it is like to feel the Savior's love, my brother Aaron.