Blessed out the Whazoo

have you ever stopped to think how crazy blessed you are?
well today i have.

America. the very word conjures up ideals of freedom, liberty and justice. we are a blessed nation and we take it for granted every day.

My Family. Wow. I don't even know where to begin. the love that they share for this crazy girl writing this blog... i don't understand it at all...but they love me all the same. And i can't even begin to express how much i love them. (and i'm only talking about my extended family)

My Dad. I know he probably will never read this, but Dad, this goes out to you. You are the example of a Godly man in my life. I figured out a long time ago that you are not superman, you are not perfect, you are my Dad. And i wouldn't have it any other way. You have shown me how to grow through my flaws by growing through yours. You have shown me what a real marriage looks like. I know now that marriage is a full time job. But Dad, you have shown me how to succeed. Daddy, you have shown me how i deserve to be loved by loving Mom and i can't thank you enough for that. I love my mom, but i can trust always in the fact that you love her more. that is incredibly reassuring for a child to know. Daddy, if i probably should write a whole pages and pages about how incredibly blessed i am to have a father who cares. And how many times have i taken you for granted? Daddy, thank you for loving me. Thank you for setting the bar so high. You make me what to be a better person because you so want to be a better person. Thank you for loving your family with every ounce of your being. I love you more than i can say.

My Mom. Mom is more likely to read this, but it's still unlikely.
Mom, i don't know the girl i would be without you. You had the determination to take everything away from me to straighten me out. Thank you for that. Really. You know me better than i know myself. You are my best friend. and as i sit here crying as i type this, i can't find the words to tell you how much you mean to me. Your Sunday afternoon phone calls that get goofier and goofier as the weeks go on mean the world to me. i love being able to call and get boy advice or just spill about my day because i know on the other end you hang on to every word. Thank you for being the best example of a Godly wife and mother as you know how. Thank you for bringing music into our house. The memory of you practicing your violin always brings a smile to my face. i love how you always put your girls first, but seriously, go and have a spa day just for you. you deserve it. i love how you "get" my randomness. like this paragraph, for example... you truly delight in anything your girls do. i love you a million billion zillion.

My Sisters. the most likely to read my blog... ;)
Oh gosh, where to start? Well, you two... i've known you your whole lives...
Casi. you can make me laugh even when i don't want to. you constantly surprise me by you maturity in God. i can't wait to make more inside jokes with you...and you won't believe how jealous i get when i see you and christi making inside jokes without me! i always thought is was cheesy when people say "you are beautiful inside and out" but i can't think of a better thing to describe you. when you say you love seeing Jesus shine out of people's eyes all i can think is that you need to look in a mirror. i love you dearly, shmootzie-poo.
Christi. first of all, i want to apologize for being a crappy big sister to you growing up. i think the hardest part for us was our age difference. But i cannot tell you how many times i have thanked God in the last year because we are becoming friends again. i've missed you sweetie pie. i love your jokes, you are so witty. And my goodness i can't believe you are in high school! i love watching you and casi laugh and giggle and just be yourselves. i love love love you and can't wait to see you again.

my friends. Lord love them, they are saints for sticking with me.
Aims. i don't know how you've lasted this long as my roomie. i can't believe you are graduating and i won't see you every day for the rest of my life! God has huge plans for you. i love you dearly and i never, ever forget splitting a medium papa johns pizza with you and watching chic flicks until 4 in the morning. your laugh brightens my day and your heart after God inspires me. because i knew you, i have been changed for the better.
Linny. Oh man, oh man, oh man... you are probably the one person outside my immediate family that totally gets my random side. you always have something to say that speaks directly into my life (even thought you have no idea at the moment) i can't tell you have blessed i have been to be able to come spill my boy trouble to you. your godly wisdom helped me out of at least one sticky situation. i love you more than i can say...and if i ever make enough money to pay you what you are worth i am so commissioning you to paint/sculpt/create something amazing just for me.
Kim. i am so glad we were suite/room mates this year. i never would have gotten to know this amazing, brilliant, crazy woman of God. you make me laugh all the time (not just because of the little clumsy moments). you are the most genuinely sweet and caring person i know. i am so blessed to have you as a buffer (you know what i mean). this year has been one of the best years of my life and i am so glad i got to share it with you. i am going to miss you somethin' awful when you graduate. you do realize that you are the one i'm going to call at 3 o'clock in the morning when one of my kids has a fever and is throwing up... haha. and you can so crash at my house one day when you bring your crazy kids down to florida to go to disney. i love you tons.

and i would love to write more...but my eyes are now puffy and i must go.
i'm sure i failed in writing all of my feelings in the way i really wanted to...
i love you all.
peace out and pizza pies.