Family...

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself thinking about family and the importance of them in our lives.  I know I have been blessed with wonderful parents who I love dearly, a step-father that I could not imagine my life without, a brother and sister who I love (but don't tell them often enough), a brother-in-law who has been around so long I can't remember many times without him, a sister-in-law who has made my brother happier than he has ever been, and I have the most incredible six nieces and nephews who are talented, smart, funny, kind hearted, loving and full of mischief who I absolutely adore.  I also have three AMAZING kids, who complete my life and make my world what it is today.

I woke up this morning, and walked around my house while the kids were asleep, the dogs were asleep and for just a brief moment - everything was quiet.  I sat and enjoyed those few minutes... enjoying the first Saturday morning in years that all three of my kids were home.  As they woke up one at a time... the quiet was over, and the games began.  The first conversation went like this.. K said, "I want a hug.", J then says, "No - you just woke up and have morning breath."  Then... she gets a big bear hug from her big brother and all is right with the world. I just sat and giggled!  When I look at each of my kids, and their different personalities - they simply make me smile.

A few minutes later, the next conversation went like this.  K was asking if we could go dress shopping today for the middle school winter formal.  I told her we would wait and see how the day goes.  C speaks up and says, "Do you know what I wore to the formal in the 8th grade? A t-shirt and jeans."  K with her sassy comeback says..."And how many girls did you dance with?  ZERO!"  Again - hysterical laughter!

In addition to the family we are born with, we have the family we choose.  We have those friends who have shared our lives, they have been there for all the ups, down, highs, lows, good times, bad times... and all the craziness in between.  They are the ones who we can look at, and with no words they know exactly what we are thinking.    They are the ones who love our kids as much as we do, who celebrate with us during the good times and are there to support us during the hard times.  They are the ones that we had the blessing of choosing to be our family!

This week for us has been full of answered prayers and blessings.  It has been a week full of emotion and thankfulness.  It has been a week of knowing that no matter what happens, He is in control.  And if we just simply, pray, listen and wait for His will to be done - things will happen the way they are supposed to.  As I look at my three blessings this morning, I could not be any more proud of them.  You see, they all have their own personalities, they are all truly unique, and - God chose to give them to me. For that... I could not be more thankful!

"The most important thing in life is family.

There are days you love them, and others you don't.

But, in the end, they're the people you always come home to.

Sometimes it's the family you're born into and 

sometimes it's the one you make for yourself." 

~Carrie Bradshaw~