Moments as a Family

FAMILY

We all have one.

Yet, they're all so very different.

We had the Blaylock Family Reunion this weekend!

Can I just say how much I LOVE my crazy relatives?!?! 

Yes.....CRAZY.

SOUTHERN crazy!

There's a difference!

And you know who you are! :)

In all seriousness,

they are amazing and I completely love them.

The time with our big extended family has made me think 

of my own crazy little bunch.

Sometimes I sit and observe our family. 

I listen to the conversations they have with each other.

I hear them laugh at things that I am completely clueless about.

I watch as they sort out their differences.

I watch them get frustrated with each other, and then exercise forgiveness.

I watch as they patiently try to deal with the chaos of a big family.

I watch as they all mature and grow up.....right before my eyes.

I watch their personalities develop.

I watch them decide every day the kind of adult they are going to be.

When Moses graduated from high school and left for college, it changed the dynamics of our family.

Then Hannah graduated and left for college, and it actually cemented in my mind that our family would never again be the same.

I know, I know.....it's part of the process.

But, that doesn't mean I have to like it.

:)

Israel is a Senior this year, and Noah will graduate next year.

Zach and Keely will be in High School next year.

And it's all happening so quickly. 

How is it that time seems to be passing so much more quickly now?

So, I've been thinking a lot about the transition of our family.

Luckily, we have a big family, so we'll have kids here FOREVER...

but the days of EVERYONE being here, waking up together, lounging together, watching Star Wars together and laughing at the dinner table together are sweet little memories of the past.

It's a hard thing to start having to accept that.

But, it also fills my heart with joy. 

I love these little creatures that I get to share my life with.

And I have loved the moments we've had together as a family.

I treasure them right now in a way that is hard to explain.

Those memories, those special moments we've had, are little treasures that I will always have.

I'm excited for our crazy family.

I'm excited to see what new adventures await us.

I'm excited for them to keep growing, changing and becoming unbelievable adults.

Although I'm excited at the sheer possibility of having an actual office, craft room, and space for all my "stuff" one day, I'd much rather have a jam packed house full of kids and noise.

Lately I've been feeling the need to hug my babies. 

Enjoy the noise. 

Embrace the chaos. 

Listen more closely and love more completely.

One day, it will all be different.

Still wonderful, but different.

I love my family.

Time always brings change,

so I'm grateful we have strong roots.