This is a version of one of my favorite sayings. And this is 100% my family. I love low maintenance, I love that we can not talk for weeks or months, but when we do...it is like we have been hanging out on the front porch every night. I love that we all know the other all is crazy busy living their crazy blessed life and we do not hold it against them one iota.
I love that when we talk, the depth of our conversation is several layers deep because we don't really have time to talk about what we had for dinner, the weather, or the current state of our excretory system. We talk because we need to express that we LOVE each other with the complete insanity that runs through each generation. We share because the void of time, no matter how brief or extended, has nothing on the current moment.
I have several different branches in my life that I would totally include on my family tree.
One of those branches is my high school friends. We met over a year ago for our 20th High School Reunion...I know right! Feels like yesterday and we all don't look a day over a 5 year reunion. And I don't talk to them that frequently, and see them even less. But I LOVE them and I am so very proud of each one of them for their beautiful families, and their happiness, and their adaptablity, and for just simply making it this far, because, I dare say I am not alone in "adulting is way harder than I thought it would be". What we share over Facebook messages is etched on my heart, because we are sharing life, and aging, and funnies, and a little bit of thanks that although far apart, we are not alone.
I have another branch that extends in a crazy direction that includes my college experiences through PLC, Sigma Kappa, and all the other interactions that stemmed off of those two families. I still keep in touch with several ladies and gents and you want to talk about inspiring! Civic leader, preachers, teachers, special-needs parents, newscasters, peace-corp, doctorates, and lawyers...there are some serious stories of tragedy, triumph, hope, grace, divorce, loss, gain, perseverence, contentment...so proud to say I served and lived alongside of them for a moment.
Some of the thickest branches include our baseball families. We always come out of the season (aside from one bad choice - mistakes happen) closer to most of the families that we spend 5+ months with. Some have even visited us in our modest little town and they still LOVE us! We have shared car rides, vacations, hotel rooms, sunflower seeds, beers, salsa (no double dipping of course), tears, laughter, resources, bats, umbrellas, blankets, high-fives...and some remain our sturdiest branches today. Because of them I know the power of a jelly fish, can talk boy puberty without blushing, have tried every flavor of sunflower seed known to man, and through them, I have learned that we can be randomly united for the love of the game.
I am thankful for the beautifully painted branch that is my women's bible study group. Over the past four years we have read, prayed, welcomed, and grown together. I feel we are at a point where God is calling us to go deeper and leave the comfort zone behind...I don't know what that looks like, or what that means, but I firmly know that we do not walk it alone.
I am thankful for the branch that contains my two-favorite bloggers and workers for Christ.
(1) Kristen Welch founded Mercy House and her Blog "We Are That Family" constantly reminds me that at times we all yell at our kids, can't afford to give them everything, want to save the world, struggle with ebbs and flows in relationships, women should support women, and in the end, we can only do so much. (The Mom Quilt supports Mercy House and contains an essay by me!). (2) Jen Hatmaker is who I would stalk if I was that kind of person. If you have not read Interupted, 7: A Mutiny Against Excess, or For the Love - well your tree is not being watered abundantly. She reminds us that leggings are not pants, that 40 is freeing, that you really can wear the same 7 pieces of clothing for one month and live to tell about it, and that humaning is hard work. BOTH of these ladies write about how many of us HAVE BEEN BLESSED ABUNDANTLY...and ask "what are you going to do about it?".
And without giving you a mini-sermon here...I am thankful for the roots and vine that have established the encompassing knowledge that I am never alone when I allow my day to begin with Christ. I rarely talk to myself anymore, but I found myself talking to Him alot. I always believed in God, but until four years ago, I never realized what it meant to have a relationship with God. To realize that He has been chasing me, protecting me, redirecting me...my whole life.
Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. John 16:32
We are all scattered in different locations, different stages of life, different teams, long and short moments. But the Father is with each and every one of us -whether you are ready to acknowledge that relationship or not...He ain't goin' nowhere!
As we enter this time of Thanks-Giving, no matter what family branch you are with, or how many branches you have to visit over the course of the next week, or what branches may hit you as your crazy busy life goes cruzing by...Stop and take in all the many branches you have been blessed with and let your life be watered with the fact that you are never truly alone.
**The following link is to my Pinterest Board that contains many things that I am thankful someone said, because it helps remind me that I am not alone in my thoughts and feelings...maybe you can relate to a few and can feel that same comfort of a kindred soul swinging from their tree:
"A Little Bit Me"
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