Dad, Thomas and Josiah!:)

This post is specifically for Dad, Thomas, and Josiah who I hope were not sorely offended when I said, "The purpose of this blog is to encourage my sisters in the Lord who are SO DEAR to my heart to draw near to the Father and grow in His excellent grace!" That is ONE of the purposes of this blog, but the other purpose that runs hand in hand with that one is to keep my dear family up to date with my EXTREMELY busy life, to make them smile, laugh, and hopefully to communicate just how much I LOVE my entire family! When God put me in the family He did, in the year He did, in the setting He did He knew EXACTLY what He was doing! My family is the best! They embrace me for who I am, surround me when I'm down, laugh with me when I'm crazy and support me when I'm gone! Just to show how AMAZING my family is I want to list something I LOVE about each one of them....although keeping this to one thing will be difficult!

Dad-- Wow....where do I start?! Dad is like the rock of logic, steadiness, wisdom, love, and an abundant supply of laughter in my life! Two of my favorite things that my dad has EVER told me are, "Bekah you can always call me any time of night or day and I'll ALWAYS be there for you! And, You're the apple of my eye!" Thanks Dad for being that example of my heavenly Father's availability and love!

Mom-- You're amazing! Your attention to what's going on in each of your children's lives and your concern is incredible! I love when we get special days together just to talk! I love how you pull our family together and remind us of what will last for eternity by your time invested in relationships, reading God's word, and prayer!

Thomas-- Where do I start?! Your example of a life sold out to Jesus Christ has challanged, strengthened, and encouraged me SO MANY times! I love how you serve without expecting anything in return...your hugs and how you get me to talk when I don't want to is what makes you an AMAZING big bro!

Josiah-- You're the best! Your wisdom, loyalty and kindness has been a HUGE blessing in my life! Every time I have a talk with you I walk away amazed at the wisdom you have from allowing Christ to mold and shape your life! I love your enthusiasum for Christ, family, and life...you inspire me!

Abi-- Like two peas in a pod me and you are!:) We think alike, act alike, and look alike!;) You're SO AMAZING because you're always there for me!! You constantly give up of your time to invest in me when I'm having a hard day. You live out a life of love and sacrifice that causes me to reach deeper into Christ's endless resource of strength and joy so that I can live that way too!

Anna-- Words can't say what you mean to me! We've traveled the countryside together, laughed together, cried together and prayed together!!! We've got some history! I appreciate your sensibleness, your passion for Christ, and your desire for justice and fairness to prevail!

Julia-- I have SO MANY good memories with you! Whether it's riding horses, being crazy, or fun with the cousins we've done it all! One of the things I appreciate most about you is your caring heart! Whenever someone is sick your the one who pays attention to their every need and tries to make them more comfortable!

David-- Wow...I love you and you're SO AMAZING because you're just great to hang out with! I LOVE it when we go fishing together and do camping trips! Your my outdoors crazy buddy! I also love your sensitive heart and your desire to walk in the ways of the Lord!

Joanna-- You've taught me so much about the love of the Father! How He loves us when we're helpless, undeserving and unloveable! My unconditional love for you has revealed to me His unconditional love for His children! You make me smile, laugh, and lighten up! You're AMAZING!

Oh um....wow!!! Like I said it's REALLY hard to make a post about your AMAZING family short! In the past months God has REALLY convicted me about investing in the lives of my family, and as I have sought to obey Him I've been so blessed by what a precious treasure each on of them is....a gift from Him in my life! Have you taken the time to count the blessings that God has blessed you with in your family members today?!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17