Show us Your Families

This is a first for me. I am going to participate in Kelly's Show Us your Life.

My Dad is an amazing man! He was born in Canada and as a child his family moved to California. After graduating college, my dad had to decide whether to wait to be drafted or pick an armed force, so he joined the Navy. He spent his required time in the Navy and when he got out and came home, he found that his family had moved to Arkansas. So he too, made his way to Arkansas. His family built a beautiful home in which my grandparents lived in until my grandmother passed away. Dad met my mom a little over 30 years ago (They hated each other, LOL). Anyhow, somehow through all the dislike for one another they fell in love and got married. Since that time my dad has spent his life working as much as possible so that he could provide for his family. My dad did not want my mom to work while us kiddos were growing up so he worked extra hard and we made alot of sacrifices. Even though my father was not a Christian while I was growing up, he always encouraged me to go to church and demanded that I act in a Christian manner. He may not have had the fear of God in himself but he certainly made sure us kiddos did. I remember asking my dad most Sunday's if he wanted to go to church this week and his response was always the same, "not yet, or maybe next week." Well about two years ago my mom and dad starting going to a little church (Bruno Baptist) and my dad found Christ. I am not sure most kids get to see their dad be baptized but I would say that it ranks up there with meeting my husband and giving birth as the best day of my life.

My mom grew up in a military family and they moved everywhere. To be honest, I know very little about her father other than he went to church and loved his recliner. Her mother; however, put up with my grandfather and pretty much raised 5 children on her own. My mom always grew up in church. As a mother, she struggled hard to ensure that us kiddos had everything we needed to go to school, play ball, etc (even if that meant being late on a bill or two). My best childhood memories of her would be when I would come home from school and she would be in the kitchen making homemade tortilla shells. I did not even know you could by shells in a store until I was well into my teen years. She never missed one of our ballgames and I remember her checking herself out of the hospital after having surgery so that she could make it to my ballgame. This women was crazy about being in attendance to every activity at school or in my life. (Let me tell you that I could not get away with anything, even if I would have tried!!) It is probably her active involvement in my life and her high expectations of me that drove me to stay on track and avoid most teenage troubles.

I have three siblings: An older brother, a younger sister and a younger brother.

My oldest brother was born from my mother's first marriage. He lived with us off and on throughout my life. I always thought he was the coolest person in the world and I just looked forward to every time he would come home. As I grew older, I started to realize the struggles he was enduring coming from a split home. He struggled to know where he fit in, where he wanted to live, and how he should live. I remember as a teen talking with my older brother and trying to answer his questions about God. I am pretty certain that my answers were not sufficient based on many of the choices he has made. He has three girls, one of which my wonderful parents are attempting to raise. Please keep my brother in your prayers!!

My younger sister has always been the shy child. I have kinda secretly looked up to her because she has never worried about what the outside world thought of her looks, attitude, success, or anything else. She just lives for her family and God. She has always been very smart and it made me so mad in school that she never had to try. When she was 18, she married her one and only boyfriend. He is an amazing man and serves as a youth minister at Bruno Baptist. They have two children: a boy named Ethan and a girl named Maci.

My younger brother is very adventurous to say the least. As child, we were always heading to the hospital to get him sowed up or casted up. I honestly dont think it was that he was accident prone, he just pushed everything to limit (lOl). He was probably the most athletic of us all! I guess it is coming up on two years since we nearly lost him. My brother was going on with his normal adventurous life. Right out of high-school, he went straight to work with my dad. My brother loves to make money and was not willing to wait on college to pan out (lol). He met a wonderful girl named Cheryl. They found out they were expecting a child and we were so excited (you see my sister and I were both pregnant also). Then it was like the world came to a stop!!!!!!!! I remember that I was on my way to drop Luke off at the sitters (funny that I cant remember were I was going). My mom called and said that I needed to get to the house now and that Adam had a dirt bike wreck and they were airlifting him out. I dont remember much about my drive only that it was quick and panicked. When I got there, Adam was already in the ambulance and they were about to take him to meet the helicopter. Once Jeff got tot he house, we went and picked up my sister and took off for Springfield. When we got to St. Johns, Adam was sleeping and honestly looked fine. We took turns sitting with him and were later told they were going to move him up to ICU just for observation but everything looked good (sweet relief, right?) Jeff and I decided we would go get food for everyone (especially Cheryl who was like 8 months pregnant at this point). While sitting in the drive through, I received a panicked phone call from my sister (remember she is the shy one). All she said is get here now, mom passed out and they are rushing Adam to surgery. Wow!!!!!! Anyhow, to make this story as short as possible, the amazing doctors at St. John's saved my brothers life. They told us that they almost lost him and for two to three days it would be touch and go. From that point on, we were warned that it may take a long while (6 months or more) for Adam to talk, walk, or do much of anything normal. We were told that he might have to be in the hospital for months, a rehabilitation center for a year (I suppose it is their job to prepare us for the worst). Well I am glad to report that Adam amazed all of his doctors and was moved from St.JOhns after about 2 to 2 1/2 weeks. He was then moved to Mt. Home to their rehabilitation floor. He spent about a week there and was ready to go home. He was walking and talking (not always saying what he should). It was not an easy road once he got home. He struggled with his memory, with not being allowed to work, with understanding and dealing with his child being born. I am so happy to say that he has come a long way since his accident. He and Cheryl are getting married on June 18th (after a long road), Adam is back to work, and their wonderful, beautiful baby girl is amazing!!! Adam was saved as a young boy and I am certain that his accident and the things he experienced being so close to death will continue to remind him daily of God's amazing power!!

Well that is my family!! As Kelly stated, my husband's family is amazing and I am so blessed to have them in my life!!!

I will try to attach a picture of my family tonight!