Family

In our house we have one rule: 

Family First.  

That sometimes means we do things we don't really enjoy.  It means that sometimes we go out of our way to make sure the other people in our family are happy and have all the love they feel they need.  We didn't always have this rule, it's just been in the last 5 months or so.  We got to a point in our lives that everything else was coming before family.  We weren't even eating dinner as a family.  We were being pulled in so many different directions that our family was falling apart.  Over the last 5 months we have dealt with some pretty life changing circumstances in our marriage and with the health and well being of one of our children.  Sometimes those moments force us to realize what we were doing, wasn't working.

Because the commonality that each author of the blog shares is that we are mothers I thought it was fitting to introduce not only ourselves to you but also our children.  Between the 13 contributors on this blog we have 37 children and 11 grandchildren.  It's amazing isn't it.  With that many children odds are that we have dealt with or experienced a great number of "learning opportunities".  That's what we are going to call those moments where you sit in bed at night and think, "Really, this is really happening."  I've had my fair share and I know I'm not alone.

As I prepared to write about what family means to me one thing kept coming to mind and it's the quote from Michael J Fox.  It's something that has stuck in my mind for the last few weeks and I just had it printed to put in my bedroom and in our kitchen.  I would encourage each of you to do the same.

Download this print from Sweet Rose Studio

I was raised as the only daughter who had 3 older brothers.  Life with 3 brothers was rough at times.  I got to be the test dummy, the butt of all jokes, and I got teased all the time.  However I always knew that I was loved.  I always knew that my brothers would defend me to anyone.  I was proved that time and time again.  

Photo Credit: Lindsay Jane Studios

As I've gotten older I have days where I hate being the only sister.  I have 3 amazing sister-in-laws but some days it's just not the same as sisters you grew up with.  I wouldn't change my family for anything in the world.  We are each very different and unique and my mother was given a run for her money that's for sure.  I've heard from her, many times, "I did that wrong, so please learn from me."  I know that our families have the ability to mold, shape, and  create us into the people that we are.  I'm excited for each of us to share our families with each of you.