🎈 Happy Birthday Big Bro – Nathan

Today I’m celebrating my big brother Nathan. Not just because it’s his birthday, but because of how much of him still lives in the people who loved him.

Nathan was one of a kind. Funny, determined, always moving, always building. He could take apart an engine, rebuild it better, and still make time to be an amazing dad, a real big brother, and the type of guy everyone trusted to have their back. Skilled mechanic, best friend, solid human.

Some of my favorite memories are simple. Just being in the passenger seat of one of his cars, windows down, bass shaking the trunk, UFC or music videos playing on the screens. That was our space. Music blasting — 3 6 Mafia, DJ Screw, Texas artists — swapping phone tricks on our Androids, and him "borrowing" my shoes like he actually planned to give them back.

We shared a lot of laughs. But what makes today even more special is that I get to spend it with my son, Brayden — who Nathan always called B-Rad. They had a real bond. Nathan passed before Brayden was old enough to understand just how deep it ran, but the connection was always there.

This year, for Nathan’s birthday, Brayden surprised me with tickets to the Rockets vs Thunder game. He bought them himself. That moment hit me hard in the best way — proud dad moment for sure. To be sitting side by side with my son, honoring my brother through something we both love, that’s a gift no amount of money could ever buy.

Nathan would be proud. Proud of Brayden. Proud of the man he’s becoming. And I know he’d be smiling ear to ear hearing B-Rad talk trash at the game and keeping our family’s energy alive.

Happy birthday big bro. You’re older than ever but forever young to us.