Thankful for Family

This post contains summaries of my families and also specific reasons why I am thankful for each person involved in my life through family.

I love my family.

I love the little family Michael and I share together.  While it is just the two of us for now, I love the foundation we are building through Christ that we will get to share with our children someday.  I cannot think about it without getting excited.

Michael--his God-centered wisdom, his generosity, his sense of humor

I love the family that I come from.

My parents are wonderful.  How great to have a mom and dad who love Jesus and have stressed his importance in our lives for as long as I can remember.  My parents seeking to honor God with their lives has played a huge role in shaping not only myself but also my brother's and sisters.  Each of us have our own faith, but our parents have been faithful witnesses to the truth.  It is also awesome to have parents who love each other.  Not everyone gets to witness a consistent and good marriage.  Seeing my parents relationship with each other has played a role in the way I act towards Michael as his wife.  Finally, I have been blessed with parents that love me and my siblings despite our imperfections.  I could go on and on and on about how much I love and appreciate my parents.

Dad--his spiritual leadership in our family, his genuine heart for others, his honesty
Mom--her nurturing actions, her positive attitude and joyful heart, her encouragement 

My brothers and sisters are four of my best friends.  We share many things in common.  We share a love for Jesus, we share a history, we share a similar sense of humor, we share some similar interests.  I love spending time with them.  I love sharing life with them.  I love playing and laughing with them.  I love singing with them.  I love the freedom we have to be ourselves around each other.  I love seeing their faith in their actions.  I love talking about Jesus with them.  I love that we can be honest with each other.  I love how Shelby, Sam, Charley, and Jos each play an important and irreplaceable role in our family.  

Shelb--her compassionate heart, her willingness to laugh, her honesty
Sam--his joyfulness, his silliness, his genuine love
Charley--her sense of humor, her genuine heart for others, her independence
Jos--his leadership among peers, his discipline, his good humor

I love how my family has welcomed Michael with open arms.

I love the family that I married into.  I love that they love Jesus.  I love that they have real relationships with one another.  I appreciate that they can be honest with one another.  I love how silly they can be.  I love their laughter.  I love their generous hearts.  I love how Michael's parents love their boys, their daughters-in-law, and their grandchildren.  I love having Jason and Claire as a brother-in-law and sister-in-law.  I love spending time with them.  I love have nephews and a niece who are cute and silly.  I love being a part of this family.

Dennis--his discipline and his generosity
Denise--her silliness and her willingness to serve others
Jason--his patience and his dedication to go above and beyond to make a difference
Claire--her activeness and her intentionality in relationships
Jonas--his enjoyment of others and his interest in learning and growing
Freya--her feisty attitude and her obvious love for others
August--his attempts to keep up with his brother and sister and his quick smile and laugh

I love my extended family.  I have loved growing up with grandparents and great -grandparents.  I love the legacy they have left for the families.  I love laughing, playing, and visiting with them.  I treasure the relationships we share.

Grandma Mert--her positive attitude
Grandma Book--her happiness
Grandpa Book--his sense of humor
Grandpa Sodey--his kindness towards others
Grandma Sodey--her enjoyment of others and relationships

Grandpa Butch--his joyful heart, his purposefulness in relationships
Grandma Diane--her gentle and quiet spirit, her servant heart
Grandpa Denny--his sense of humor and his supportive attitude/actions
Grandma Karen--her laughter and her care for others

I love having aunts and uncles.  I thankful for their involvement in my life.  I appreciate the ways they have shaped my parents.  I love having 16 cousins.  I love the unique relationships that we are able to share with one another.  I love laughing with them.  I love remembering with them.  I appreciate how our relationships have shifted and changed as we have gotten older.  While the relationships I have with each aunt, uncle, and cousin are different, there is something specific I appreciate about each other them.

Uncle Scott--his enjoyment of joking with others to and his sacrificial love
Uncle Brett--his sense of humor and his genuine care of others
Uncle Kent--his joy and his thoughtfulness towards others
Uncle Bruce--his laughter and his relational heart
Uncle Mark--his acts of service and his steadiness

Aunt Cathy--her purposeful investment in others and her creativity
Aunt Kelly--her silliness and her intentional relationships
Aunt Meg--her quick laugh and her honesty in interactions
Aunt Kim-- her gentleness and her love for others

Uncle Brent--his steadiness and his loving support of others
Uncle Marc--his good memory and his appreciation for laughter
Uncle Trevor--his interest in our families' pasts and his concern for others

Aunt Shauna--her dedication towards friends and family and her heart of service
Aunt Michelle--her discipline and patience towards others
Aunt Liz--her joyful heart and her ease in conversation

Jon--his drive to work hard and his dedication
     Katie--her confidence and her commitment to others
Jess--her discipline and her contribution to the lives of others
Max--his humor and his heart for others
     Kristin--her genuineness and her friendliness
Jordan--his leadership and his appreciation for goofy things
     Hannah--her easy-going attitude and her happy disposition
Steven--his thoughtfulness and his desire to always be the best version of himself
Jackson--his compassionate heart and his silliness
Beth--her purposeful attitude and her care for others
     T.J.--his hardworking attitude and his devotion
Nathan--his sense of humor and his certainty in who he is
Noah--his consistency and his willingness to help others
Natalie--her servant heart and her sweet nature
Nolan--his sensitive heart towards others and his playfulness

Maddie--her goal-driven attitude and her ability to let loose and be herself around others
Tanner--his ability converse and his good-natured attitude 
Kinz--her fun-loving disposition and her dedication towards others
Rachel--her confidence and her quick laugh
Mia--her sense of humor and her concern for others