I am smack in the middle of two brothers; my older brother is three years older than me, my younger brother is 3 years younger, and our birthdays fall within less than a month of each other. Wade's birthday was last Saturday, and Cory's is coming up on Sunday.
Being the only girl was not something I loved. When we were kids, and I would see one of those Christian Children's Fund commercials (sponsor a child for only 5 cents a day!) I would beg my mom to buy me a sister. I thought that they actually sent you a kid. It was only 5 cents a day!
I was heart broken when my parents told me the baby in my mom's belly was a boy. One of my earliest memories is arguing with Mom and Dad about what to call him. I made a solid case in favor of calling the baby Annie; obviously if you gave a baby a girl's name it would be a girl and I was dying for a curly red-headded sister who could sing and dance. I also remember crying on the way to the hospital because I still didn't understand why anyone would want ANOTHER boy.
But then, as I got older, I really grew to appreciate the boys. They looked out for me, stood up for me, and let me hang out with them even if it wasn't cool. As a nerdy child, I really appreciated having built in friends. They would even play Barbies with me...as long as it included Barbie and her friends going 'bungie jumping' off the stair case, which of course resulted in gruesome life-threatening injuries.
Cory taught me multiplication tables when I was in kindergarten, and Wade would come to my tea parties even after I had been mean to him.
I was pretty timid as a kid, but they pushed me to be more adventurous. We lived in a new development, so early on there was a lot of empty space to wander. We also used to go camping with my Grannie a lot. By making me go exploring with them they forced me to recognize that I could do whatever. Without even being aware of it they taught me confidence. They also taught me to trust my own judgment: if I think that ledge looks unstable, I probably shouldn't climb on it...unfortunately that is one lesson I learned the hard way.
And now they are some of my best friends. Wade is kind and goofy, and so good at getting to know new people. Cory is thoughtful, considerate, and one of the hardest working people I know. No one can make me laugh like them (two words: kidney. punch.), no one can put me in my place like them when I need it, and no one is better at putting things in perspective. They are both good men, the best I know.
So Happy Birthday Wade! Happy Birthday Cory!
