.Why I Blog.

My brother and I are two very different people.  We're wired differently, we have different strengths, we conceptualize things in a completely different manner.  We've had discussions several times before on social networking and the impact it has had on socialization as a whole.  Alex is very private, I tend to be more open.  Is one method of interaction better than the other?  Not necessarily.  It is who we are, and based on the circumstance, we may change in our style of connecting with others.  

 I blog because I try to move life along too quickly. I'm always moving from one to-do list item to another. I can't sit still doing one thing at a time.  I blog because sometimes I'm so busy planning what's to come, that I don't enjoy what's already here.  I blog because I have a terrible memory and sometimes have to get G to confirm whether a story is reality, or in fact created completely in my imagination.  I blog to keep my far away family and friends in touch with our lives.  I blog in order to reflect on daily happenings.  I blog to process situations.  I blog to document learning... progress... and hopefully, growth.  I blog to normalize emotions and experiences.  I blog because this is an important time in our lives; scrap booking is too expensive and time consuming for me.  I blog because I feel that I have something to say, something to contribute, something to share.  I blog to hold myself accountable to slow down, and appreciate the small things because many times they are as, if not more, beautiful than the big.  The small things are hidden and precious.

So while social networking is used for many intentions, I use this one as my platform to share part of ourselves, the part that experiences life and love (hence the blog name).  There are several reasons I chose to begin this blog, but the greatest reason was to use it as a tool of joining.  To join with my family, to join with my friends, to join with others who face similar circumstances, to join with people who are just genuinely curious.

Because joining is what it's really all about.  An isolated existence doesn't seem much worth it to me.

.Brother Birthday.

Happy 19th birthday little brother. 

I feel old again.

Since you're on the road to being a famous musician I thought I'd remind you where you started because one day when you're featured on Behind the Music, they'll post these adorable pictures of you.  Remember that I love you always... even when you drive me crazy... and that I'm always in your corner... even when I'm tough on you... it's only because I expect no less than incredible things from you.  God had his own perfect intentions when creating you and I cannot wait to be on the front row applauding whatever unbelievable accomplishment it turns out to be.

.Music Is Art.

My younger brother Alex, is a musician.  A very good artist in my opinion, though I may be a little biased.  While I had to take piano classes for six years to be relatively decent, Alex taught himself how to play the piano, drums, and guitar for fun before puberty.  It's blatantly clear which one of us got the creative genes.  It's hard to believe how driven he is for an 18 year old, or how far he's come in his craft over the years.  I'm always filled with pride when I hear him doing what he loves.  Although we're six years apart and it's sometimes easier for me to take the role of second mom to him than older sister, we couldn't be closer.  I can't wait to see the good that he's going to do with his music and the people he's going to touch.  You'll hear me brag about him much more in the future, but you can get a brief introduction to his works here, here, here, and here.

* None of these pictures were taken by me.  All the awesomeness was borrowed from his facebook page.