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My widdle baby brother graduated from – wait – where’s my tiny chubby baby brother? Uhhh….

OH WAIT. HE IS NOW THAT SCARY GIANT MARINE IN THE MIDDLE. Well, scary or not, I am VERY VERY proud of him. He graduated from Officer Candidate School yesterday. Go Tim!

I can’t BELIEVE I let yesterday go by without being bloggy of tiny Tim’s birthday. Brother Tim turned 24 yesterday, and as my DAD blogged, he’s certainly seen more in his 24 years than most do in a lifetime. I am like real proud of him. Also, now I want some of those pancakes. (THEY ARE GINGERBREAD PANCAKES.) Mom: Wow.

When I was wee, I remember thinking, one day, my brothers and I, we will be in our 30s. And that will be completely, completely insane. We have a nice system, the 4 of us: we are all pretty much 2 years apart, so if I am ever confused about my OWN age, I only must think of my brothers. Well TODAY, Big brother Pete turns 30! My mind: blown. I’m sure nothing will drastically change, and that he will continue to play with toys, but still, this is quite the event.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE! I LOVE YOU!

My little brother Dan OWNS A HOUSE. WHAT??? This blows my mind, this ‘home ownership.’ He is even ‘flipping it’ which means he’s made it much more awesome, re-done the wood floors and painted the walls a lovely carolina blue, as the previous tenant was clearly insane and made everything yellow, pink and plaid. Houses have basements, yards and honeysuckle bushes and cute little gates. Dan likes to look out upon his yard and pretend he is Thoreau. Since my parents babysat the house while he was in Afghanistan, it’s still in great shape, and ONLY requires mom’s attention SOMETIMES, especially when it comes to Where to hang family portraits. (IN THE MOST PROMINENT PLACE IN THE HOUSE.)

 Pete ‘Twilight Hair’ Brunstetter

Tim ‘ Kitten Mittons’ Brunstetter

And lastly, AfghanisDan, sadly not pictured.

‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’

John 14:27

Also, these help:

Dan’s deployment finally finally got scheduled – it’s this Sunday, his Birthday. Personally, I can think of better birthday presents, like, I don’t know, cake? A sweater? A hug? I’m nervous but proud of him. Please join me in prayers and happy thoughts for him through May 2010. When he returns, his time with the Marines will be up, and the world will be his Oyster. He plans to travel the world a bit, then do the whole Law School thing (as at least ONE Brunstetter kid must follow in Dad’s footsteps, and, ahem, it will not be me.)

I like it when parades happen outside my office. I couldn’t help but have a private moment with this one, and let my heart momentarily swell, and things, and leave my Dad and brothers sappy voicemails.  

It’s a pretty incredible sight to be hold – NYers lining the streets, shouting thanks and praise to soldiers. Only on Veteran’s Day (Seriously. Only.)

Dan’s going to Afghanistan and I can’t say I have much peace about it.  I know he’ll be fine – he’s extremely savy and is going to be staying on a base for the most part, but I can’t help but be the scared, and the nervous. So to ease my mind, I did a bunch of internet reading and looking and wondering. And while at first, this only made me MORE freaked out – but I did gain a greater understanding of what Dan will be doing – and why he’s doing it. Sure, it seems like a nearly impossible war now, sure the Taliban seems to be stronger than ever and progress is slow – but from what I can tell, the people who live there need the protection. If Dan and his men weren’t there – they might very well be killed. Regardless of whether or not we should have gone there to begin with – they deserve to live in peace.

So, Subsequently, for me, at least  - in having this understanding -  Peace.

 Bro-stetters be wearin me OUT!