Family

How lucky I have been with family. I love my parents and all my brothers and sisters as well as nieces and nephews and have had the good fortune to spend enough time with most of them to feel as if we are friends as well as relatives.

When I was 33 I was blessed by Marilyn to be introduced to a man that allowed me the opportunity to join his family. And what a family...the children were awesome and have become wonderful adults that I get to begin to enjoy as friends without so much pressure for their decisions. Although, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of times I have to work through my normal parenting responses before I talk to them about supporting their decisions with faith in their abilities to determine their own outcomes. Much like I felt as an Aunt but without the parenting pressure.

As we added additional children and various family members into the mix at different times these great family members continued to support and love each one as part of our family even when it happened during missions, college, etc. I can only say again how blessed I am with my children. We continue to struggle and develop anew as we have adopted three children during this time and it has been difficult to put the family together with weddings and additional grandchildren and normal financial strains for young adults. But, each time we get together or have the opportunity to speak they (the older children) love and accept each child with unconditional love and acceptance that they are brothers and sisters and deserving of their love and devotion.

I have learned so much from the attitudes of the children Dan and Lynn brought to this family...from acceptance, patience, kindness, peace and joy, laughter, music, love. They embraced me in the same way and allowed me to be part of their lives and bless me and watch out for me and defend my craziness all the time. It has been an amazing journey and I have been fortunate to have played a small part in it all.

I try to repeat these attitudes now but find that we are creating a new path and a journey I have to learn again as we raise the younger children each that bring a new and different challenge. However, among all the challenges that we face together I cling to the steps we see that we are blending and becoming one. The trip to Erin's wedding and visits with the East Coast family and the pleasure they found in cousins their own age and children to play with that helped them realize the great family they are part of. The recent trip to Utah with very little contention for a 12 hour (combined) car ride. Trevor, Amylynn, Kenneth and Xander each trying to help in their own way to make it a peaceful and exciting ride. The joy as they notice nature and begin to develop friendships that they and we have worked so hard to create.

In short, I am thankful for my blessings and for the wonderful, supportive family I have that loves me in spite of my shortcomings and blesses me with support and advice when I feel I have lost my way. Thank you to all of you and your children.