Family upon family....

Although no family dynamic may ever seem "normal", I guess I come from a fairly "normal" family.  I'm real luck-y (and I use that term with all its implications), and I am quite grateful.  One perk of being married has been the addition of a new family.  I know of many folks who, unfortunately, have a rough time with their in-laws.  Again, I am luck-y (though, I suppose, a more restricted notion than the first usage - since after all, some of it was in "my control", e.g. marrying Alissa, etc.).  It's been pretty easy with my in-laws, and in fact I feel as if I'm being spoiled on both fronts.  Since Turkey Day approaches, I have a lot of things to be thankful for this year, and I suppose I'll fill this blog with such things.  So first off, I'm thankful for my new family...

The "blonde" is my sister, Andrea... she's had a roller-coaster of a year (romanticism in 12 months with all the highs and lows), but her spirit has been an encouragement to me... and it is literally "impossible" to ever be bored with her (I mean that as a sincere compliment).  My mom is on the right... boy does she go over, above and beyond for her kids (even for her new kids)... I think she's flown, driven, packed, unpacked, moved so much this year for all of us that I can't believe she's still willing to come back... 

We're like an inverted twinkie....  (for those a little "slow", that's white on the outside and yellow on the inside)...   that's my brother, Brian on the right.  I'm borrowing his Chapman sweater (where he and Andrea both received their Master's this year - like I said, a roller-coaster year).  He just got a great job, and they recently moved into a new house - and best of all, they're expecting a little baby (so even more "new" family is to come).  My dad is on the left.  I can't say anything else but that I hope to grow up to be like him (he's a lot like my own dad [without the fobby-ness], so I hope to grow up to be like them both).

That's my grandpa.  My own grandpa passed away when I was one, so I've never had a grandfather during my years of being consciously aware; so it's nice that I now have a grandpa.  He's a good man; and even now, he is vigorous when it comes to ministering to others and evangelizing... I hope to be doing the same when I'm his age...  

That's my family.  I've given them a drop of yellow in their sea of white...  I like color...