I don’t know how this happened but I missed my sister’s birthday. Well, I didn’t miss it exactly. I have a lovely gift for her here, made by Johnny Boden’s peeps, and I spoke to her the day after her birthday (as I was traveling across a large body of water on her actual birthday without a blanket or pillow) so those bases were covered. But to my horror I woke up the other morning to the realization that she did not get a birthday shout out  on Ye Olde Dawesome.

Forgive me, dear sister. You of all people – one of the truest followers of this little blog- should be highlighted here on dawesome.

Brynn was born the day after Christmas. When my mom carried her though the door she was wrapped up in a huge stocking. If someone were to ask me what the best Christmas present I ever received – without hesitation I would say, that my best present came the day after Christmas -in the form of my little stocking stuffer of a sister Brynnie – winny!

Brynn, simply put,  is one of my favorite people in the universe. She is talented, funny, bright, deep, good, beautiful, stylish, interesting, kind, and true. If you know her no doubt you’d be nodding your head. Perhaps an “amen” might have escaped your lips?

Brynn is the middle child which is to say she is SMACK DAB in the middle of a line up of NINE children. Every time I hear talk of “middle children” in general terms they always sound such a sad and pathetic lot. I have never understood this middle child phenomenon because of my beyond wonderful sister Brynn. When she was three years old she was such a hoot that she inspired a short documentary. STARING BRYNN & ALL ABOUT BRYNN. Just to give you a sampling of  the content of this film at one point Brynn has a glass of “bubbly” while taking a bubble bath and ends the film by lip synching to Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT. Oh, how I wish I could show it to you, but it is only on a VHS tape. Boo!

When Brynn was a little girl her favorite thing to wear was a filmy pink negligee with spaghetti straps. The straps had to be tied in knots so that she could be covered up on top and not be constantly tripping over her choice of wardrobe and yet, it still trailed on the ground. I swear she wore that thing ever day for a year. I will forever have this image of her in the pink nightie wearing a boa. That is my sister B R Y N N, my friends.

Brynn was a force to be reckoned with, I tell ya! Just ask her brother Chas. He can tell you A L L about it. Boy! Did she know her mind. Middle child my foot! If you’d asked her she was running the show! Or at the very least she was running Chas’ life. “Come on, honey” she would say to him as she dragged him with her on all of her adventures. Oh, the times that were had!

Brynn was a  scrapper. Once my mom was telling her off and called her by name, to which Brynn replied, “My name is not Brynn! My name is”Brynnie-Winny”!

That scrapper of a little girl, our dear feisty middle child, would be put to the test. All that gusto would be challenged. And for a brief time — that UGLIEST time of life known as MIDDLE SCHOOL — there were moments when we wondered if we’d lost her under a tidal wave of coolness.

Brynn was very popular. She had been running with the popular crowd since kindergarten. Which was okay until they started drinking, smoking, carrying on and shoplifting. Brynn’s friends became her whole world. She preferred them over our family — a great rift began to separate her from us and I believe from her truest and best self.

But by God’s grace she did the impossible. She realized what was happening, withdrew herself and her allegiances from the cool crowd, the result of which meant her facing their total and utter rejection. Meaning they completely STOPPED talking to her or even looking at her. This was in a small school with a small class of about 50 kids total. You couldn’t just drop your group of friends and then start afresh with another group. Your group of friends was your whole world and there was no jumping from one group to another. So from that point on she didn’t have any friends – and she took the road less traveled.  The lonely road that goodness sometimes demands of those of us who are brave enough to take it. By some fateful chance I was living at home when this all happened. And I watched as she endured this time of heart ache. I also watched as miracles happened after the trial of her faith. The first miracle was that she was accepted into another school – and then a year later when my parents could no longer afford the tuition – an ANONYMOUS patron paid for half of her tuition. It was like something out of a novel!

I have REALLY good news – all that wonderful, bubbly, feisty, personality lives on in the elegant and refined woman who now wears a “Mrs” in front of her name.

Brynn is one of the most delightful people you will ever have the chance to talk to. She listens with intense energy. She has strong feelings about things which she will share with loving kindness.

She is a fantastically talented writer. If you read this blog you will have seen her insightful and beautiful comments. I wish she had a blog filled with her writing that I could link to right HERE. But alas, I have not been able to convince her how much the world needs her voice. (If you know her writing and would like to join me in my efforts to persuade her to get her stuff into the public domain, let me know and I’ll send you a “Brynn was born to BLOG” pin!)

Brynn is FUNNY. As in laugh till you pee your pants funny. She was in that BYU comedy troupe called Divine Comedy and I think she was swell, if you must know.

She is also a terrific actress. She can play an old Irish lady or a ditzy blonde to perfection. She is goooood people, and when I say good I mean GOOD! She is the self-proclaimed “Julia Roberts” of BYU – meaning she doesn’t “audition” she is asked to star in things. She has even been someone’s MUSE. But don’t get me wrong, acting goddess she may be, but one of her favorite characters to perform is a girl with a lazy-eye. Multi-faceted and mysterious! That is my Brynn.

She is married to a wonderful fellow, Ben. Together they make the most fantastic team. When they show up I’ve noticed that people smile more, and enjoy life more. Might be their general gusto rubbing off on those around them? Personally I think they are just magic together!

Finally I want to tell you one of the reasons I most love and admire my sister. She has struggled with a chronic illness for years. It has taken a huge toll on her. It has changed her life – in both negative and positive ways. Throughout this ongoing struggle she has remained positive, and downright delightful. I am not saying there haven’t been moments of true despair, darkness and struggle – it has been a challenge in the truest sense of the word. But she has kept and continues to keep her chin up. For this reason and for so many many more I love her very much.

In my opinion she is TOP DRAWER!

Happy (*belated) Birthday to you, my Brynn!

*P.S. “If your elder sister has offended think on your patent leather Boden loafers and all is mended.” I HOPE!