Family

So I had the missionaries from my church over for dinner the other night. Two 19 year old girls, away from home for 18 months with just letters and two phone calls a year to their families sharing their knowledge of the gospel with the world...and pretending to like whatever they are fed everyday. Good work ladies! Any missionary is impressive and courageous in my book. It takes guts to share something that is precious to you with the full knowledge that more often than not you will get rejected. Sounds like dating :). But that usually works out in the end too. So I'm here today because they gave me a challenge..."Anna, we know you have a wonderful family and we want you to share that with others. Do you know about the Proclamation to the Family? Well we brought a copy of it with us and we'd like you to give it someone else. Tell them what your family means to you and why you think family is important."

So I wanted to take the missionaries challenge, because I promised I would, and because the topic of family and its importance has been on my mind a lot lately. Would you guys read this document for me? Especially anyone, who still reads this poor, neglected blog, that is not of my same faith? Let me know your thoughts about it. Good or bad I'll take them. These are precepts I live my life by so maybe you'll understand me a little bit better if you don't already know this about me.

THE FAMILY: A Proclamation to the World

Well I think those missionaries are right, if I'm allowed to say so. I do have a great family. My new little family is great, the family I grew up in is great, and the family I was able to join thanks to my husband is also great. We sure aren't perfect but we are great. These are all people I genuinely respect, love and feel comfortable around. And man, are we a great time! Ha ha!  But back to the point, I think that most of this "greatness" and strength comes from our love for our and our commitment to our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father and the central role they play in our lives. I appreciate that there is this common thread between all of my family that knits us together. We don't worship this way out of tradition but out of choice.  Running through the full spectrum of family roles (daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, etc.) has really given me a better grasp on life, to enjoy it more and to see it more completely. And having a family and being a part of a family really brings me joy. Not just like happy, but I feel real joy. Family is what makes my world go round. Seriously. I hope I have made that apparent in my action as well as my words.

As a parting gift I will leave you with some fun family photos. I will keep it brief as we have a lot of family. :

The P clan!

The H clan!

Five generation photo!

Can you pick out my Dad a midst all those brothers?

I think there are only 11 or 12 people in this picture that are not blood relatives.

 Until next time adieu...to you and you and you-oooo!