Thank you Popop, D, Aunt Jessa, Uncle Josh x2, Uncle Dan, PJ!

I wasn’t born with a wonderful family but as I got older and wiser I learned to surround myself with people I love and can call my family. I’m setting this blog aside to remember the people who have become my family. It’s hard to be frustrated with your lot in life when you are counting your blessings and that’s the road I’ve decided I’m going to travel. This is a big THANK YOU TO:

D playing with a water feature at the Henry Doorly Zoo

My husband (D),  who remembers to scoop the kitty litter because he knows I’d forget, makes me chicken and stars soup when I’m sick, thinks I’m beautiful even when I’ve gained weight and feel unattractive, and supports me in EVERY (and I mean EVERY) hairbrained scheme I come up with.

Popop & J at a dinner on the Carnival Sensation during their cruise to the Bahamas!

Our Dad (Popop), who has always been a great shoulder to cry on, a wealth of knowledge and great suggestions, the best stuffing maker I’ve ever met, a great Kitty Popop, encourager of growth, and most recently ROOMATE!! Dad has always been the strongest person I know and I appreciate everything he’s done for me and can’t wait to see him with his grandchildren!


Aunt Jess & J at a wine tasting



My best friend (Aunt Jessa), who makes me laugh when I want to cry, forces me to see reality when I’ve got my head in the clouds, flips the light switch when I’m in a dark place, lets me practice my parenting on her daughter, lets me sit ON her during scary movies and shares dinner duties with me. I’ve never had a friend like her. She gives without expecting something in return and it’s refreshing to know that I’m not required to return the favor unless I truly want to.

Our other best friend (Uncle Josh), who is less vocal with his feelings than I am but still makes his feelings for us known through his gestures, downloads scary movies for me at all hours of the night and laughs when I scream like a little girl, who came over and set up Dad’s computer without us even asking, and forgives me every time I smack him!

My brother in law (Uncle Dan), who has always treated me like a girl with cooties, tells me what he feels, and has made it clear that we are family and will be there for each other no matter what happens.

My other brother in law (Uncle Josh#2), who makes me laugh every time we talk, gives me great book and movie suggestions, and helped mediate a fight when he didn’t really need to.

My best friend/brother (PJ), who brings me back to 9^th grade with the BSB playing on a cool autumn day, makes me think of summer squash and Oliver Twist, doesn’t let my head get too big, welcomes me into his home even if I have unwanted guests with me, and loves me even if I make horrible decisions.
And my sister, Chrissy, who reminds me that life could always be harder than I have it, faces her tough times with faith and optimism, taught me compassion and loyalty at an early age, and shows me that with a few different choices I would have been a much different person. Even when I'm angry with her I always love her and wish she had an easier life and that we were closer.

Without these people, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Each person has been part of my life for almost ½ of it (yeah guys…In a few years I’ll hit that magical number) and has helped shape me as a mother, as a friend, and as a woman.

Thank you for being a blessing that is bigger than any of my frustrations in life. I love each one of you!