Sunday Sharing

Quick note:  I was so touched and impressed with responses about our Random Acts of Kindness Day, and can't wait to share them.  We were out of town this past weekend (i.e. not blogging), so that will come...eventually.

Family is on my brain lately, and the last few weeks have given us a lot of opportunity to reflect on and appreciate family.

It's hard to explain how I feel when I'm around family, but I can't imagine not feeling that way forever.

• It's how I felt when I saw my sister walk in the temple the day of our family sealing.
• It's how I felt at our family adoption celebration later that same day.
• It's the crazy, funny morning getting ready for family pictures.
• It's being surrounded by love and kindness whenever, where ever you need it.
• It's missing people who aren't here and tons of memories from when they were here.
• It's not wanting to say good-bye when it's time to go.
• It's being happy to see each other again.
• It's traveling hundreds of miles to see people you love.

It's all those things and so much more.

This past weekend Tim and I went to the Seattle area to celebrate my cousin's wedding.  It was a quick trip and there were times it didn't make sense to make the trip, but we think this cousin is awesome and his family is my second family.  They were a huge part of forming who I was during my college years, and we were happy for the opportunity to celebrate with them, even though it's always too short.

I won't lie.  It was also good to get away from kids for a few days, and I think we had just enough time away to be really excited to see them again when we got home.  (And thank you Dean and Joelle for taking on five extra children for the weekend).  

While we were gone, Joelle posted some pictures on facebook from a hike they took with the kids.  

Stewart Falls in Utah

Interestingly enough, Tim and I had some time to kill earlier that day and on the same morning our children were at one waterfall in Utah, Tim and I were at another waterfall in Washington.

Snoqualmie Falls in Washington

Our attempt at a self photo at Snoqualmie Falls

Call me sentimental, but I felt connected across the miles by the similarities between our activities that morning, which is just another one of those things family is all about:  feeling connected even when we're not together.

• It's my dangly earrings I let Joie borrow as we hurried out the door to the airport because she was having a hard morning and needed to have a piece of me with her while we were away.
• It's texts and phone calls from teens who want to think they don't need a connection but were making them anyway while we were gone.
• It's memories and traditions we maintain even when it isn't easy because what it represents is important.
• It's knowing the warmth and security we share is still there even when we aren't.
• It's knowing all this can last forever because we are connected, which is the most incredible thing ever if you really, really think about it.

Families are the best!