Things that matter

Someone once told me, it's not where you are but whom you are with that makes life all the more beautiful. In life I have visited many beautiful places, traveled miles to locations that are breathtaking, and experienced the swift passing of a highway as I ventured out into another setting for a short moment in time. I have been to countless places in the world but the essence of joy in life has been found in a place I'd like to call home. This is a place that can't geographically be described, nor can it quite be minimized to the four walls of a building. This home that so often gets overlooked is family. I have journeyed through a many seasons in life with some being more painful than others. I however am able to gaze back upon each moment and realize it was my family that made everything in life monumental. My home has been wherever my family resides.

Let me tell you a little bit about my family. My oldest sister, Jenn is an inspiration. She has been married for almost three and a half years to her best friend and the father of her 7-month old baby boy, Caden. When she's not teaching music to elementary kids, she is playing the triple role of a mommy, wife & incredible friend. I am highly convinced that she could burp Caden, root Jared on from the sidelines {her husband is a Varsity basketball coach}, & skype Mom and I all at the same time. Not only is she a supporter of many but an incredible artist; she simply has a knack for crafty creations. :)

Christy is my other older sis whom inspires me substantially as well. Christy and my brother-in-law, Matt have been married for a year now. When she's not being a new wife as well as mother to their only child Bailey {their cat}, she's doing all she can to help others; she's a nurse! Christy has the gift of taking care of others. Aside from assisting patients and tending to their needs, she is always caring for those around her. She is also very involved in singing at her church on a weekly basis. Christy is crafty like Jenn as well and has quite the creative eye.

And now we've got Cindy, my mother that is! :) This blog would be endless if I began to describe her in full. She is a rock and someone I look up to in utmost respect. When she's not working, helping out at the church, or catching up with friends, she is being an amazing mother. It's pretty cliche I suppose to say that she is the most extraordinary mother in the world, but words truly can't begin to describe how much she has provided. She appreciates all of the things that make my sisters and I individuals and unique, yet she loves us equally. She is constantly thinking about other's needs before her own. However, aside from her attentiveness to people, her strongest quality is her faith in the Lord that is unwavering. I will be lucky if I turn out to be half as amazing as her one day.

I just introduced you to a few of my favorite people in the entire world. If you only knew how amazing they were, you would understand that these words I use to articulate to you my gratefulness toward them, truly won't suffice. As amazing as these individuals are in my life and although they have found me at a place that I call "home", there is a love and a joy beyond what I discover when spending time with them. If I can love these people in my life to the extent that I do, then I can't even begin to fathom the love that my heavenly father has for me. The very man who exudes and is the epitome of love, cares for me more than anyone in my life - that is formidable! So these people that I speak of, I would give my life for. I cannot begin to imagine a life without my family and those that I love. But the love of my heavenly father is even more powerful and I never want to go a day without His presence in my life.

Someone once told me, it's not where you are but whom you are with that makes life all the more beautiful. I want to spend my life in companion with the Lord. This is a place that can't geographically be described, nor can it quite be minimized to the four walls of a building. I have found my home and in Him I will rest. These are the things that matter.