Family (Joni)

I'm sitting here on our couch and looking out the window in between thoughts. Snow is falling and it's peaceful. My kids are in the kitchen cooking together. My son decided to make pancakes today. Although he didn't need the help, he had noticed Abby was in her room. That's not typical of her. She is often on the couch researching all things gardening and homesteading (when she isn't at work or helping in the kitchen). She's always willing to help and that's only one of the many great qualities she possesses. 🩷 She loves her brother although the words are rarely spoken. She is one of his biggest allies and is also willing to hold him accountable and call him out when necessary.
Dom has a tender heart, especially toward his sister. He adores her and it bothers him deeply when she is hurt, sad or upset. 💙 He doesn't like to make a big fuss about ANYTHING. He is extremely chill and forgives quickly. He will defend Abby when necessary and is always available when she needs him.
I love hearing the two of them in the kitchen together. Truth be told, I love ANY time I get to eavesdrop on them spending time together or working alongside each other. They each have qualities that the other admires, although at this stage of life, you will NOT catch them telling each other what those are. I like to remind them that they will appreciate each other more as time moves on. They will end up leaning on each other, learning from each other and hopefully, being a best friend to each other. No family is perfect. But I'm so thankful for the one God gave me!!

Growing up, my family was close. My mom and dad made sure of that. ❤️ I have SO many fond memories of my childhood. I have two older sisters and we were homeschooled. That was back in the day when people thought that homeschooled kids didn't do anything all day. Boy, were they wrong! We joke that, when we were sick, Mom used to say Literature could still be done. 😆
My sisters and I knew we could count on 3 things: God, our parents and each other. We had family night most every week which usually included pizza or tacos and dessert. We were around each other almost every single day. Moving around a lot made our relationship with each other even stronger. As we've grown, the closeness has remained. Many people have told us how blessed we are to have each other. And, as time has passed, we've realized more and more how very true that is. My family has ALWAYS been there to cheer each other on, encourage one other when times are tough and call each other out when we aren't looking at things from a Biblical perspective. I love my family. ❤️ They aren't perfect but they are perfect for me.

As my kids continue to grow older, I pray that they will continue to value family. I hope there are many more times of them in the kitchen together and that I'm blessed with many more opportunities to eavesdrop on that time. ❤️

Growing in Hope, 
~Joni


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