Next?

Michael

33.  My oldest brother is eleven years older than me.  He is the oldest in the family.  He has a master's in forestry from the University of Illinois.  He has a wife, Jen, and two daughters, Kaylee and Emma.  Mike and Jen have been married for almost ten years, which is almost half of my life.  

Karen

32.  I only have one sister and she and I are almost exactly ten years apart, only off by a month.  She and I are each other's favorites- she spoils me more than anyone else.  She is married to Brian and has a son, Eli, and daughter, Clarie.  I am one of Eli's sponsors. 

Nathan

30.  He and I have a special bond.  I don't know why, but I always have looked up to him, even though he does really stupid things.  Now he is a pastor.  He, too, is married to Ruth.  We don't like Ruth.  She stole Nathan from the family.  He is the one who is never around.  They have two children, Benjamin and Lilly, and one more on the way.  He is the odd one in the family now.  He is the one who is never around.

Stephen

27.  Steve and I have the least functional relationship.  I think we are the most alike, but it pains me to even think it!   Now he is a high school math teacher in Iowa.  He is married to Pam.  He and Pam met here at Concordia where he proposed under the Ginko tree (I'll gladly share the story- just ask).  They have two children, Jonah and Markus.  

Phillip

25.  He is the quiet one, too smart for his own good.  He surprised the heck out of us all three weeks ago by proposing to his girlfriend of a year.  We never thought he would do this.  We never thought Phil would get married.  He isn't as socially awkward anymore or as quiet, though his conversation seems to be limited to Maria (fiance) and trees.  They are getting married in about a year.

Rachel

22.  The youngest of the brood, soon to enter the "real" world (2 months and 18 days)  Has 8 almost 9 nieces and nephews, 4 brothers, 1 sister, 1 brother-in-law, and 3 (almost 4) sisters-in-law.  Is starting to really feel like the odd one out since Phil got engaged and that she has a lot to catch up on... comments such as, "you're next" are starting to appear in conversation with family friends and relatives... gag me.  It does get start unhappy thoughts about me always being the odd one out and being the one who stays single.

Auntie Dee

Mom's sister.  She was married once for about  7 years to a guy from Canada (Brett).  Apparently he cheated on her and wanted his girlfriend to move in with them.  Auntie Dee kicked him out.  She is a control freak.  Now is 59 and has no children and is going through a stage in which she has many regrets and realizes she has no one to pass her belongings or memories to.  She's not my favorite person.

Great Aunt Emma

92.  Mom's aunt, still living on her own.  She was the only girl in her family with 5 brothers.  She never got married.   Her memory is failing.  Dementia.  My great uncle Louie's wife and my grandma come and take care of her, because she has no children or grandchildren to take care of her.  She never let us take our shoes off when we were little.  She always had Andes mints in a candy dish on her coffee table.

Rachel