On this day, 25 years ago, my oldest younger brother, William Christopher, was born. I vividly remember as he spent his first few months of life in the hospital in a little incubator, Pop-pop would bring me to the hospital to visit him. I remember crying when I couldn't see him closer and was not allowed to touch him. I was so eager to be best buds with my new little brother! But as soon as he was out we became the very best of friends! Chris and I did everything together as little ones. We played Legos, Barbies (yes, he compromised and played with me), He-Man and SheRa, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and plenty of other things together. We also played "church," on the stairs at Granny's house where Chris was the pastor and I was the choir. Half that dream came true! :) And although we were quite agreeable and polite, we did have our share of mischief. During "nap time" at Granny's house we would run around the coffee table and play "Choo-Choo Train," after she fell asleep. We would giggle too loudly, thus waking her and having to make grand leaps back to the couch to pretend we were sleeping!! Unfortunately when Chris and I begin to laugh, it tends to become a series of uncontrollable outbursts that can last for several minutes, so we rarely pulled that one off! Hahaha.
Once we had moved to Portland, Chris and I would fly all by ourselves from Portland to Ohio to spend the summers with our family there. It was so fun to be "big kids" traveling alone together. We would get special treatment on the plane and plenty of lolipops for our popping ears! :)
We have many fond memories of those trips together. We would run and play at the park, feed the ducks at the pond, watch "The Stories (soap operas)," with Nanny and Pop-pop, along with lots of Sesame Street and Maya The Bee!! One summer we actually watched the original Batman movie and the movie Willow
every single night for the
entire summer!!! Pop-pop always made us midnight snacks. Those were a special treat that we loved.
We have always shared our own litte inside jokes too. Not only do we look similar, but I think we often think alike and to this day we can look at each other from across the room and pretty much know what the other is thinking (sometimes this produces those giggly outbursts at very inapropriate times). It is such a gift to grow up with your best friend!! He is always encouraging me. When he sees me, he usually greets me with a solid hug and, "Hello beautiful sister." Isn't that sweet?!? He reminds me that I am special and loveable and that I have a purpose. He also (gracefully) calls me out when necessary. :)
Seeing Christopher as an adult absolutely amazes me. He is now the College Age Pastor at our church. He lives and breathes to serve the Lord and serve others. I am always impressed with his humility, commitment and integrity. Also with his ability to brighten a room with his smile and humor and really connect with those around him in the church and elsewhere. Chris is a strong man and I am so excited to see what God's plans are for him. I have watched as he's been learning more in the past year about being a teachable leader and really allowing and trusting God to use him and mold him. And it has been simply brilliant. He is definitely living an abundantly fruitful life from where I sit!
William Christopher Thornton, happy birthday, and please know that I couldn't be more proud to call you my brother and my friend!!
This one is totally classic "us."
