Reflections

Its amazing how as you grow up you thing that your family is a pain.  They are always telling you to do something or not to do something.  You always thing that they aren't being fair when they tell you No to something that you really want to do.  You thing that you deserve a different family or that someone else's family is "cooler" or better than yours.  Everyone is telling you to love and cherish your family and in your mind you are thinking "I don't want to", "Why", "I have the craziest family", and many other thoughts.  I am sure that most kids and teenagers think those kinds of thoughts as they are growing up.  I heard the saying "You'll appreciate your family one day", "This is the only family you have" and other things too.  And of course as a kid/teenager I was thinking whatever!

It's amazing how things change as you get older and have a family of your own! I have learned over the years and am still learning everyday just how important family is in life.  They are the very back bone to who you are and who you have become.  I am not sure where I would be without my family.  And I have also learned that family doesn't just consist of blood family.  I have a very large family both blood and not.  I have been extremely blessed with amazing people in my life that I consider family and wouldn't trade them for anything in this world.  There comes a time in your life when you realize that without family you wouldn't have anything.  I have many amazing people in my life that love me and accept me for the way I am, even with my many faults (Gosh knows I have a lot of those)! I have people that are willing to listen to me when I need to talk, vent, cry or whatever.  I have people that smile and laugh with me!  I have people that help guide me in the direction I need to go in.  I have people that are willing to help me when I need it the most or when I don't think that I need it.  These people are also more than willing to tell me to suck it up sometimes when I am having a poor pitiful me moment and want to sulk.  HAHA!! Yes, I have those days!

As I have gotten older, I have realized how important it is to spend as much time as possible with the ones that you love because none of us are promised tomorrow.  We are to cherish every moment that we have in life because we have no idea what will happen in the future.  I have had several emotional moments lately that have been hard to swallow, but at the same time, I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world.  They are moments of bonding that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  They are moments that remind me to be thankful for what I have and to live life and cherish it with everything in me.

Without my family, I would be NOTHING!!

I have an Amazing Husband that loves me unconditionally, expresses his love to me, works extremely hard to provide for his family, is am Amazing father, is dedicated, tenderhearted, has the sweetest smile with those dimples, and is everything that I could every image as my soul mate! God blessed me!! And I am thankful!

I have 2 amazing boys that make my life complete. I can't imagine life without them! Never in a million years did I think I could love like I do when it comes to my children. They are fun, loving, very energetic, trying, argumentative, squeezable, love to laugh, love to try me, love to cuddle and most of all, love me! Having 2 boys has opened my eyes to a whole new world!! Having children has changed my life and I am very thankful for.

I have amazing mother that loves me even when I tried her with everything in me! She provided for me, loved me and tried her best to steer me in the right direction no matter how hard I pushed the other way! She loved me with all of her heart and reminds me that she loves me! She reminds me that she is proud of me and is there for me when I need her. She reminds me that I can do anything I set my mind too and is there to remind me when things get tough that I can do it.  I just have to hold my head up and remember who is in control! She has encouraged me through nursing school and reminds me that even though it is tough it will be well worth it!! I am thankful!!

I have a father that loves me! Even when life threw us lemons and everything else in life. And man have we had a ride in the last 30 years! But it is amazing how God works to turn things around. He works in mysterious ways even through trials to show the love of a parent. Things weren't great or perfect but now there is hope and things have changed. He loves me and reminds me that he loves me! I am thankful!!

 I have a grandma that has been my rock all my life! She has showed me that life isn't about sitting around. It is about doing things. She has always demonstrated the need to work for what you have and want. She taught me that it is ok to get out and work with your hands, even in the lovely MS HOT weather! She has taught me that you can achieve anything that you set out to when you put everything you have into! You have to put your heart and soul into everything! I love listening to her tell stories of her life growing up ( and secretly being thankful that I didn't grow up in those times, not sure I would have survived ha!). She has am amazing memory of her life and I love listening! I only wished that I could remember them all and store them in my brain so that when she isn't hear to tell them, I can think about them and tell them to my children. I can't say enough wonderful things about this amazing woman!! I love her with all my heart and thankful to call her my grandma!

I have an amazing 2nd mother. As my mother would say, she birthed me but Aunt Reba caught me. I have been her baby since I was little. I was her first child! She gave me my love for shopping (which my husband isn't always thankful for). She is one of the most tenderhearted women I know! Even when I disappointed her, she still loved me unconditionally, like my mother and grandma! I have found over the years that there isn't anything that she won't do for me!! I am blessed to have a godly woman in my life that is willing to help me with the boys when I need her! It would be so difficult to make it through school without her to help me with the boys!  She is amazing with the boys and is a tremendous help to me!! I am Thankful!!

I have a big brother that I have always thought was here to occupy me and to entertain me, which has always drove him crazy!! I have nagged, pestered, fought with, laughed with and cried with!  I have wished I had a sister instead of him, and he wished he had a brother instead of me!  I have gotten him in trouble because he should know better cause he is the oldest! We didn't get along most of the time when we were younger, but the older we got the more that we bonded.  Even though we still don't always see eye to eye, I love him and am thankful for a protective big brother!! I am thankful!

I have an amazing extended family in cousins, in-laws, and many friends that I consider family!! I am beyond blessed! I can't think of a greater bunch of people to call family!! I am reminded everyday to be thankful for what you have because we never know what tomorrow brings.  I was blessed to be raised in a family that taught me to be affectionate and demonstrate my love!  We always tell each other that we love them, we give hugs and kisses and let each other know that we appreciate them and love them!  I can't imagine growing up in a family that doesn't do that!  And I enjoy teaching my boys to be the same way!! Love is an amazing thing!!

I thank each and every person in my life for loving me, accepting me for me and all my faults and for being in my life!! I thank God for allowing me to have such amazing people in my life to call my family!! I can't imagine having any other people in my life!! I am beyond blessed!!!