Meet Ste...er...Elder Richards

This is my younger brother Stephen.  He is currently a little more than half way through his mission in Washington state- spanish speaking.

Though he wasn't always a tall and lanky lad:

I've been editing family home videos and my first opinions of Steve were dicey at best.  I admit I was a little slow to warm up to him having been the "baby" of the family for five years it was hard to relinquish the title...plus, well let's be frank I always wanted a sister, but I couldn't feel more differently about him now.  Looking back at all of those videos he was so full of energy and the rest of us pretty much lived to make him laugh-at least in the videos I have.  Though there was a rough patch with some local ducks at the park, he was a pretty brave kid and was always up for anything that the rest of us were doing, eating, or watching.  I remember getting really annoyed with him ALL the time for that reason.  I guess it's natural for older syblings to want some space from younger syblings but luckily I grew out of that phase.

yes, star wars is a pretty big deal to him and I suspect what got him excited about the film industry to begin with.  Though we will probably argue over which is better: star wars or lord of the rings til the day we die (films, soundtracks, books, directors, everything), I like that we are both geekishly into things together and that neither of us has lost the "kid" in us/the ability to be swept away into different worlds like that.  I admit that it must have been really hard for Steve growing up.  Mainly cause he was finishing up middle school by the time I left for college and was an only child at home while all his syblings who were always around before were now off doing their own thing.  I dunno...I would feel left behind and I'm sure he did too. Plus he was so young when all of us left that it would be easy for us older syblings to never stop seeing him as a little kid, but he's totally an adult and his own person.  He kept busy though in marching band (boy after my own heart)

Due to my serving a mission I got back and was able to actually be in school with him for his freshman year at BYU.  It was so cool to re-get to know him and rediscover who he had become over all the years I had been gone.  It was pretty fun to hang out with him from time to time and it was really cool for him to get to know Cody a little before he left for his mission (really the first of the family to really get to know Code).

waiting for me off the plane

I dunno...male bonding?

we sat in on one of his performances in a theatre class

having fun in good ol' houston

I know that I could be really mean to him when we were kids but I'm so greatful for our friendship and that even now with him on a mission and me off living life we are still close.  He is growing and learning so much on his mission and it's really cool to see his excitement and hunger for the work.  I can really feel his testimony of the Savior and can't wait to see where he'll go with his life once he gets home.  Basically he's the coolest younger brother a girl could ask for and I can't wait for him to get home and for all the laughs that I'm sure we're bound to have :)