Favorites Day 25 - Family

I love these guys, or should I say "my people."

I'm so glad we were finally able to mostly all be together at Thanksgiving!

I grew up with three sisters and one brother and my fourth sister was adopted from Russia when I was in college. My brother wasn't able to come to make it in this picture:(

Here are a few tidbits about my family:

When I was young I loved asking my dad ANYthing and he would know the answer. He loves knowing random things like current world events, and financial info, among many others. As a chemical engineer, he knows what all the ingredients are on the backs of all household bottles of chemical things:)

An important lesson my mom taught me was many years ago. A friend wrote something intended to be hurtful on a text. Instead of lashing back she told me exactly what to say - it was kind. It was the last form of communication I ever had with that person, and I have had peace about that ever since. She taught me to show respect and kindness to others even if they don't to you. My mom doesn't gossip or criticize others, it's really just not in her being.

My older sister Becky's first baby and our first grandbaby is in heaven. She was stillborn but she is definitely still part of our family.

My family's challenges don't define us but they shape us. 

My siblings each have had their share of trials, and a corresponding strength of character I couldn't match.  I admire them.

My brother has a mental illness - bipolar disorder with extreme ADHD as a child. It brought a challenge to growing up life that many people don't experience - for him and us. I love him so much. He deals with this illness the best that he can. He has awesome abilities and talents. Someday he won't have this illness, but he was brave to take it on in this life.

Becky is the one with all the artistic style in our family. They have the perfect home. And apparently you can just drop by and it looks that way. Literally it could be in a magazine. I just don't understand. But I love going over there!

  These guys are finishing school and heading to a job in Seattle in less than two months!! WOOhoo!!

 Steph's baby, now three!, was born with a heart defect and cleft palate. He had three major surgeries including heart surgery as a little baby. They were blessed along the way with: grandparents' help, friends and family support, financial help, wonderful medical staff, and many other things. He's doing great now and we're thankful for all the help they had during that time that came in many forms.

Another member of our family, Cole, my sister Steph's other baby, is in heaven. Delivered at 27 weeks.

I asked her once what meant the most to her during that trial and she named a few simple things that people did, such as my sister bringing her pizza for dinner and watching Clay. And others just letting them know they cared. Sometimes I feel like I don't know what to do or say in times of trials for others, but it was helpful to learn that something and anything is good, even and especially, small things. 

Lynette's three year old, not to be confused with their four or two year old (read: busy), has SMA. He was diagnosed with it less than two years ago and is in a wheelchair. In a small nutshell, neurons aren't telling the muscles to fire resulting in muscle atrophy.

She is sharing some of the details of his life. Read them on his blog here.

My family could teach me a lot about strength...and not the muscle kind.

Well, those are a bunch of serious things about my family. Ultimately, of course we wish they didn't come around, but I hope trials make us closer and stronger in our faith and as a family.

When I think of good memories from my childhood, some of them are:
family movie nights with licorice in my parent's bed
Playing Games
Summer Family Vacations
Grand Targhee
oven pancakes and conference saturdays with conference blaring through the house
making salsa and applesauce (tear for the apple trees RIP){glare at my parents}{smile}
WEEDING
Saturday work (work is good, seriously)
falling down the toilet aka stairs...what was that game called again?
secret santas (the eagle has landed!)
Sunday afternoon naps in the family room while my dad watched football
Lilac bushes
fhe

 Last time we went to Utah around mid January we were just missing the Brady grandkids!

My sister and her husband Jon are incredible photographers!!!!  It takes a lot of work and time to make that many people happy with a picture (at the top) but they managed to do it even if they wanted to just delete me out of it. (I typically have panic attacks every time I see a picture of myself, whaddayado.)

Jon has an incredible eye for scenery shots and Nette is an awesome editor. They're a good team.
This is in Missouri where they live.

Thanks again for our pictures, we LOVE them!

"I bear witness of that day when loved ones whom we knew to have disabilities in mortality will stand before us glorified and grand, breathtakingly perfect in body and mind."
Jeffery R. Holland
"I testify that the Lord has a plan for each of our lives. Nothing that happens is a shock or a surprise to Him. He is all-knowing and all-loving. He is eager to help us, to comfort us, and to ease our pain as we rely on the power of the Atonement and honor our covenants. The trials and tribulation that we experience may be the very things that guide us to come unto Him and cling to our covenants so that we might return to His presence and receive all that the Father hath."
Linda S. Reeves