Derrick

Derrick is my older brother and, I think all of us kids would agree, represents the best in all of us.  He's the one person in the family that everyone gets along with.  He is patient when we need his help.  He is honest when we need his wisdom.  He is the glue that holds together any group he is apart of.  He is extremely hard working (reminds me a lot of our dad).  He is smart and always seems to have his head on straight.  He is not afraid to do pretty much anything.  Well, he doesn't let fear stand in his way at the very least.

One of Derrick's model shots for the A-Team.  Yes, there are  "playing cards" and yes I have one on my fridge.

When Derrick was in high school, he would take me to musicals and dance performances his friends were in because he knew it was something I loved.  He never treated me like I was just his little sister.  When his friends were around, they included me too (That's another thing, he has AMAZING friends).  That went away for a while when he went up to Utah State.  Luckily, he came home for a few months before leaving on his mission.  Together, we went and saw Alicia in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" five times.  And never got tired of being together.  

A lot changed over the two years he was gone on his mission and when he got back, Alicia was engaged, Shannon was living in Provo and almost done with school, Nate and Mandi were about to have their first baby, Spencer and Amy were pregnant with their third child, and I was about to graduate high school.  That summer was one of the best of my life.  Being the only two kids at home, we spent a lot of time together.  It helped that we worked together too.  That was the summer we really became friends, not just siblings.  When school started, one of the things I missed most was talking, laughing, and playing with Derrick.  Logan might only be two hours from Provo, but it was like we were living in different worlds.

Kids Kamp Group on Harry Potter Day, Session 2, 2010

Since Christmas this year, things have returned to how they were that summer.  And I love it!  I love that I see, talk to, and hang out with him more often.  I love that he knows he can call me late at night and I will answer.  I love that he lets me in on his secrets that he is just too excited to keep to himself.  But mostly, I just love that he is happy.  There is nothing better than that.

The single kids Thanksgiving 2011:  Shannon, Derrick, and Me

I have always believed that Derrick deserves the best the world has to offer when it comes to girls.  For that reason, I've always been a little protective of him.  That being said, I have tried hard to love the girls he has dated because I know he is no fool.  I trust his judgement.  But, I still haven't ever felt the girls were "right" enough for him.  I say right because "good" enough doesn't really describe it.  There was nothing wrong with the girls, they just weren't right for him.  Not right for who he is and who he can be.  

Until now, that is.  This new girl is different.  And she makes him happier than I think I have ever seen him.  And, like I said earlier, there is nothing better than that.

Classic Derrick.  Too bad he can't do it anymore since he got a tooth put in permanently in the gap.