siblings, friends...

Last night, as Chris was finishing up some work, I was sitting at my desk tediously editing photos.  I could just hear the hushed whispers of Ashlyn and Landon playing together, thankful that they weren't fighting for once.  They had just gotten a new game for the iPad and couldn't wait to try it out.  I was pretty focused on what I was doing but I could hear their giggles and occasional cheers.

Chris came and asked me where the kids were after he had finished up working.  I could still hear their muffled chatter and assumed they were in one of their bedrooms.  Chris walked down the hallway looking in each of the bedrooms and came back saying they weren't in either of their rooms.  Confused, I got up and we wandered down the hallway listening for them.  They weren't in either of their rooms but while we were standing in the hallway we heard giggling coming from the hall closet.  

Upon opening the door, this is what we found...

They found it completely hilarious that we didn't know where they were and both of them said that it was quite cozy in the closet.  After snapping a few pictures I closed the door and let them resume their game.

Listening to them brought back memories of playing with my brother.   Growing up, our rooms were right next to each other and our closets shared the same wall.  After being sent to our rooms for one reason or another, Dominic and I would often sit in our closets and talk to each other through the wall.

Now, don't get me wrong, we fought like cats and dogs most of the time.  There is just something about having your own secret world with your sibling that bonds you together.  Sure, Dominic, was a huge pain sometimes.  Never more so than when I had a friend over and he would continue to interrupt whatever super important thing we were trying to do.  But he was also my built-in friend.  When our family was falling apart I always knew he was there.  We may not have talked about what was going on or how we were feeling but I knew there was someone else there who was going through the same thing I was going through.  Someone who understood.  

I can only pray that Ashlyn and Landon grow up to be good friends like Dominic and I are now.  That they will consider each other someone they can call and laugh with and share stories from when they were growing up.  Someone who is there when things in life are just too hard.  Until then, I hope they continue to enjoy a secret sibling world all of their own.