“Have you brothers or sisters living anywhere in this great world? Have you allowed the friendship to grow cold or the ties to be forgotten? Have you permitted all intercourse to be broken off? Lose not a day till you have done the right thing, taken the first step, to gather up the shattered links and reunite them in a holy chain. If they are far away, write to them words of love. If they are within reach, go to them in person. If you are still living in the old home, and if your life together has not been close, intimate, confiding and helpful, seek at once by the wise arts of a loving heart to make it what it ought to be.” J.R. Miller
One Wednesday, I had already begun getting the kids ready for prayer meeting when Rich called and said we weren’t going. Since Ethan looked handsome and Grace looked so sweet, I decided to take some pictures.
Grace in mid-sentence. This is a typical occurrence.
Patient Ethan, enduring a hug from sister.
Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero. ~Marc Brown
There’s no other love like the love for a brother. There’s no other love like the love from a brother. ~Astrid Alauda
A sibling may be the keeper of one’s identity, the only person with the keys to one’s unfettered, more fundamental self. ~Marian Sandmaier
A sister is a forever friend. ~Author Unknown
I hope and pray that my children will always be close friends. That is how we train them–to love each other and to be best friends. I was asked by company once if my kids ever fought with one another and I laughed and said, “We don’t allow it”. I was only half-joking.
I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those
who may be said to be born to friends. ~James Boswell
I am the oldest of five. I feel blessed to have 3 brothers and a sister; David, Amanda, Nathan, and Isaac. How about you? Do you have siblings? 
Good to be Home 
I am the youngest of three, by nearly 10 years. Sadly, my sister and I are estranged (her choice despite my many attempts to reach out), but my brother and I, though geographically separate, are very close despite our 10-year gap and always have been…
Beautiful pictures of Grace and Ethan! I am the oldest of four. I am very close to my sister. We live 3 hours apart, so we get to see each other often. We talk on the phone several times a week. My older-younger brother lives very far away. We don’t talk that often, but when we do it is just like picking up where we left off, and the conversation usually lasts an hour or so. By the way, his wife is in labor with their first baby RIGHT NOW!! I can’t wait to hear the news of my newest niece or nephew! I am probably the least close to my youngest brother. He is 18 years younger than me, so we didn’t grow up together. He is more like a cousin to my kids than an uncle. Still fun though!
No, I don’t have siblings, but please no one hold it against me! lol I was definitely not raised as a typical “only” that I often hear about… My parents took extra pains to raise me extremely practically! : )
Beautiful children, did you make the dress? Blessings! ~Amelia
Your boys may not know it yet or even appreciate it, but growing up with a sister will make them better husbands one day! I like how your photos are no posed or stiff but capture their moods
Sweet post. It especially struck me as I just finished a weekend spent with my younger and only sister. I also have a younger brother. I cannot wait until the day God gives my Cadi a sibling!
So cute Shanda. I do have one sibling, a younger sister.
This has to be one of my favorite posts you’ve done. I love having a sister but always wondered what a brother would be like. Great job on raising them to love each other so…and to train them so well in the art of posing for the camera!!!!
I have one younger brother (just over 3 years younger). We used to be able to finish one another’s sentences. Of course, we fought like crazy. My dad was convinced we were the next Cain and Abel. Now we are more mature, but we don’t have much of a relationship. We love each other, but we don’t see each other much or talk. He’s headed towards matrimony, so that may change a few things. I hope so. 🙂
Great post…lovely pictures! I am the youngest of 5, I have 3 brothers and sister, although my mother did loose a boy in her 5th month (car accident). He is with Jesus and someday I will meet him!!!!! What a wonderful thought.
What a sweet post on siblings, a very grand thing indeed. I’m blessed with 5 siblings, 2 sisters and 3 brothers.
You sure got the sweet and handsome part right!
Grace’s dress is beautiful. I love how crisp the colors are in all the pictures and I do believe both kids will adore these pictures when they are grown and old enough to know what a treasure they truly are.
Wonderful post — they are so sweet! I am the oldest of four – one sister who was just 15 months younger passed away three years ago of cancer; one brother 27 months younger who lives in Florida and my youngest sister who is 10 years younger than me who lives in Roanoke, VA. We are all very close and we have kept in touch every day since our mother has been hospitalized. Family — what a blessing!!
You always make life, children and family look so beautiful. I have three sisters and one brother…all half. We grew up not knowing the difference though. I’m close to my sisters. As close as you can be 500 miles apart. My brother is 50 miles from me and I talk to him and see him less than my sisters. I think I will go and email him now. Thanks for letting me see the world in the beauty you do.
YES family is so important i have been blessed with two brothers one older and one younger, i always wanted a sister, so god gave me many sister’s in the lord and the friendship we share is priceless. thanks for a great post,
GOD BLESS,
SANDY
I have an older sister and a younger sister. I am much closer to my older sister. I don’t know why. Maybe because we have more in comman and also because we have made keeping close a priority. Family gives you roots. We all need that.
I have a younger brother. He thinks he’s my Dad and can freely tell me how and what I should do to change my life to what he thinks it should be. Sigh. But there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him if he needed me to, and I know that if I needed him, he would be right there for me. He always has been.
I am the oldest of 5 as well. My sister and I are very close, seeing each other just about every day. My brothers are different, kind of keep to themselves but when we talk or get together we sure do have fun.
Such a Sweeeeeeet post and all the quotes were great. I am the youngest of 3. I have a brother and sister.
Blessings,
Theresa
shanda, your photos are just breathtaking this post (not to mention your models are gorgeous young people)! i have lots of siblings and love them with a tremendous love. i’m the youngest of five, one whom is with the Lord. they are my source of strength on many days especially with my daughter’s upcoming wedding. and although we live in four different cities, that doesn’t seperate our hearts one bit. have a great day! 🙂
I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters. I’m third from the oldest. We live miles apart – they in California and me in Oklahoma. When we DO get together, nothing seems to have changed, which is a good thing. I enjoy each one of them and each unique relationship. We’ve become too dependent on quickie e-mail messages. I think I’ll sit down, today, and write my youngest brother a letter. That oughta knock his socks off!!! LOL
There are two children in our family. I have one sister. We live miles apart, she in Indiana, and I in Oklahoma, yet we talk almost everyday, whether on the computer or on the phone. We are closer since having “grown up”, but always seemed to be in different life stages as children and teens. The commonality we share, is Christ, and our Christian homes and upbrining. It is wonderful to have a sister, and a good relationship with her, as well.
I have two younger bothers. I had always wish I had a sister, but I love my bothers anyways hahaha. :o)
I just love the picture of your son rolling his eyes, when his sister gave him a hug. It was so so adorable. :o) Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week.
Kelly
Those are great pitures! Please share tips on how to curb sibling fighting. My oldest two are almost 6 and 3 and they play very well together about 90% of the time. We’ve got to work on that other 10%, though! 😉 I saw your post on Amelia’s site and was wondering what grade you are teaching with My Father’s World?
I just began the kindergarten curriculumn from them this year and really like it. Just curious about the upper grades.
It’s always great to see such love between siblings!
Oh my gosh. Your kids are beautiful. Incredible pictures! I really love the one where your daughter is resting her head on your son’s shoulder. That is truely precious. I almost cried! They look like they really love each other tons. Congrats on having such sweet and gorgeous children!
By the way, I am 22 and I have a younger sister and a younger brother. My sister is 18, so she’s my secret-club friend in a way. We tell each other all the stuff mom & dad are not supposed to know! And my little brother is 10, and I love him love him love him like he’s my own child. He’s getting so grown-up… he’ll be dating girls in no time and just thinking about it freaks me out! I wasn’t too fond of my sister growing up because she was the typical tag-along, copy-everything-i-do little kid. But now we have a lot more in common and I adore her. I would die without my siblings… truely.
I am the oldest of five. I have 3 sisters and a brother. I love them all dearly.
Love the pics! No, I was an only child, although DH had 2 brothers and I’ve basically grown up with them since they were 9 and 11 when DH and I met. I did have a ton of cousins though. DS is an only also, but I would have loved to have had more, God had other plans.
These pictures are priceless …
I like how Gee’s dress looks with his plaid shirt in the second picture, and I love the close up in B&W!
Your kids are growing up with so many memories I am sure they will always be best friends! It is inspiring how you cultivate that!
I have 1 brother and 1 sister and we are different as night and day but love each other dearly.
Those pictures are just amazing. So very beautiful!
ryc: no, the rod hasn’t slipped or fallen off. =) I try to make sure it’s pretty tight. and what is simple life? is it online or through the mail?
hey, what happened to my comment? I came back to change “simple life” to “real simple” What exactly is that? online or throught the mail? and incase you didn’t get my other comment, no, the rod hasn’t slipped or fallen off. =)
oooppps, now it decides to show up….lol
Lovely, beautiful post! I need to take more pictures of mine *together*! What kind of camera are you using? They are gorgeous pictures of gorgeous children. Sweet.
P.S. I only have one brother. We love each other, but we are not close as my Lord is not his Lord. My seven are good friends with each other and with their mom (me!).
There are 2 of us.I was an only child for 5 years prior to my sister’s birth.