A house full of family

What a great day!  A great friend came over with her kiddos (plus a few extra teens were here celebrating Skye's birthday). Hubby working,  9 females,  1 beautiful baby boy,  1 angel boy smiling over all of us, fried pickles, a huge pot of spaghetti and awesome dessert fruit pizza.   Serious giggles and insanity. 

Family

Just a bit before they came over I was on the phone with a very special cousin.  My heart was heavy over some really ridiculous inlaw drama.   She reassured me that it's ok to not to always like everyone you are related to and brought my attention back to how blessed we are with "family".  Blood lines do not define "family". Love does. And we are seriously blessed with an abundance of family related to us and adopted.

So today I looked around at my crowded kitchen full of happy faces and truly felt loved.   Teenagers yelling over eachother,  a baby to pass around, and a sweetheart of a friend agreeing with my behavior even if I could do better.  With her, there is no pressure to be anything less what I am.  

Flawed,  short tempered,  open hearted, miserably optimistic, and often a hot mess! 

But loved.  Very very loved.

Happy birthday to our Skyelar Elizabeth!   Our youngest daughter,  Skye blesses us every day with her huge heart, hysterical sense of humor, and compassion beyond anything I have ever witnessed. 

#doitforcj

Teenage love

Remember when saying I love you was so easy?  When we gave out hugs daily without reservation?

When we were teens, love for our friends was so tangible. 

I have a houseful of that young love. All 3 daughters have "boyfriends" and numerous friends that seem to move in for days on end (a few I could probably legally claim as dependents they are here so often!) That leaves us with a home brimming with overemotional love.

They don't hesitate to hug me. They don't think twice if I'm in my pjs in the middle of the afternoon.  They don't pretend not to see CJ's pictures hanging.  These kids just want to be around.  While adult curiosity leads to whispers and stares, these kids GET that I need that silly hug.  They have been my lifeline.  All those long lonely evenings with my husband work-  they get me through.  They break the silence. 

Knowing CJ had Downs, I think about how he would have been as a teenager.  How he would fit into this insane household.  And every time I smile knowing how loved and cherished his presence would be.  How accepting and beautiful this clan of oddballs has somehow turned into this beautiful accepting extended family.

We could all use a houseful of teenage style love to remind us of how important it is to be unguarded.  They helped us bring hope and life back into our home.  They keep CJ's memory vibrant and alive.  They remind me daily how to #doitforcj