IV. Siblings

A. Dallon.  My older brother is about 16 months older than me.  We were so close in age that we really didn't get along most of our growing-up years.  I know he hated it when I had crushes on his friends, or they on me.  Somewhere about dating age, we started to get along.  We had a lot of the same friends; and he started having crushes on my friends, and they on him.  We went to a lot of the same parties and activities together.  He served a mission in Copenhagen, Denmark.  When he returned, he attended Ricks College (now BYU Idaho).  He got a degree in English.  There he met his wife Patty.  Now they have three kids: Zeeli, 8; Emma, (almost) 6, and Adalaide, two days.  Dallon is funny.  He can be hilarious and make people laugh till they cry, spit, or pee their pants.  Dallon is an amazing writer and artist.  It's amazing to see the things he pulls out of his head and puts onto paper.  He is a very thoughtful person; as in, he thinks deeply about things.  He loves the outdoors.  He is a very gentle, tender, respectful person.  Love you, Dall!

B. Sharley.  My sister was born about 14 months after me.  I don't think our relationship was nearly as tempestuous as my relationship with Dallon, but it wasn't as awesome as I wish I could claim.  I was mean to Sharley.  I hated having a little person following me around all the time.  I don't know how she ever put up with me.  We got along better in our teenage years, especially since we had similar interests and even some classes together at school.  During my second year of college, we were roommates.  I still remember instances where I was just mean to her, probably acting out of my own stress and frustration.  Poor Sharley; I still feel bad about it.  Sharley got her degree in Home and Family Living.  She married Eldon, and they have two kids: Cameron, 3; and James, 1.  Sharley is a sensitve, sweet, kind, thoughtful person.  She is a very careful person; careful in her relationships, careful what she says, careful in her PB&J-making.  Sharley is musically talented, both in singing and piano.  Sharley has the gentlest hands I have ever seen.  She and I have developed a close relationship over the years (and over the phone) as we have discovered that we have so much in common, except that she is much sweeter than me.  Love you, Shar!

C. Jennilyn.  My sister was born when I was about 4.  I remember helping take care of her and changing her diapers.  I also remember asking my mom if I could hold her every Sunday before church, promising that I wouldn't drop her this time (I wanted to be big and walk around with the baby).  Jenni and I attended the same school when she was in Kindergarten, but never again.  It turns out that this middle child really took on characteristics of a first child, being so separated from siblings by so many years.  Jenni is smart.  She is successful at whatever she touches.  In high school, she was valedictorian.  She also developed musical talents (piano and singing), and she ran track and cross country.  We overlapped in college for a couple years.  Jenni got her degree in Nursing.  She met her husband Jared in school, and they have two kids: Kaitlyn, (almost) 4; and Madison, 1.  Jenni works as a nurse.  Jenni is a hard-worker, and she is the type of person who can set goals and stick to it.  Of all my siblings, I think Jenni and I look most alike.  Jenni is fun to talk to, and she has a great laugh (and her nostrils flare when she laughs, like mine).  Love you, Jenn!

D. and E. Richard and Randall.  I won't say much about the twins just yet.  But I know that eternally, they are my brothers.  Heavenly Father allowed them to come to earth just long enough to get their bodies, but took them home because they were valiant enough without a mortal existence.  I look forward to the day when I can meet them again.

F. Audriana.  My little sister is about 9 years younger than me.  I took care of this little girl quite a bit.  I remember waking her up as a newborn, just so I could hold her (my grandma was NOT happy with me).  Audri was always a curious little person.  She would moan herself to sleep, in an attempt to stay awake so she wouldn't miss anything.  She got into everything!  She was the ring-leader for trouble when my little brother came into the picture.  Together they flooded the bathroom.  And another time, they dumped Kool-Aid powder on the carpet; then added water to clean up the mess.  The red stain came out of the carpet; but years later when the carpet was replaced, we found a nice stain on the wood beneath.  It turns out that Audri has very mild Asperger's.  She always struggled with learning how to behave appropriately, but she never struggled to love people.  Audri's greatest talent is to love and care about other people.  Audri also has some musical talent, with singing and piano.  She always did well in school, and she has recently passed the test to become a dental assistant.  Audri is always sweet and always affectionate.  Love you, Auj!

G. Jacob.  My little brother is about 10 years younger than me.  I became expert at diaper changes by the time Jake came along.  As a little boy, he won the hearts of all my friends.  He even said he would marry some of them!  Jake turned into quite the tease.  He figured out pretty early on that he could push Audri's buttons, and that was great fun.  Jacob also imitated Dallon in every way.  He wanted to be just like Dallon.  Jacob is really smart.  He has a brain for anything computer and electronic.  He recently began serving his mission in Phoenix, Arizona.  It has been fun to get to know him better through his letters.  He is a good kid with righteous desires.  He works hard, and his testimony is increasing with his service.  Love you, Jake!