Where two or three are gathered

This past weekend our family was blessed to spend the 4th of July holiday together. We get together most holidays so this wasn't much different. Every time we gather, there is always lots of fun, food, laughter, and of course a few tears (mostly from the little ones.)
Growing up I never fully appreciated my family. We were just another family. But, as I get older I realize just how blessed I am. I am blessed to have two loving, caring, honest, God fearing parents. This weekend there were several times I was just PROUD of who my parent's are. And, they still love each other! And even though the grand kids think it's "gross" they still show each other affection! That makes me proud! They are still very involved in our home church and visiting as a family brought back many wonderful memories and a few tears! My parents are not afraid to get dirty with their grand kids and the hoots and hollers of laughter we share is amazing! Most of all they are not afraid to show us love! Sometimes love means hugging and crying, sometimes it means stern words that only parents can dole out, and sometimes it means just listening. I am blessed! I am proud!
 I am also blessed that they graced me with two awesome siblings. How do you sum up two wonderful humans? One cares for people physically and loves what he does as a doctor, the other nurtures youth mentally and loves what she does as a teacher. This year they have both been given honors! My sister as teacher of the year, my brother as a promoting face of  Rapid City Regional Hospital. I cannot think of anyone who is more deserving of these honors. It brings me to tears when I think how proud I am to call them my siblings!
This is my family, mine! I get to claim them and fortunately they claim me! I adore that my children grow up with these people. These wonderful people are helping to form my children. They are helping them grow into kind, loving, beautiful children of God! I am so grateful that God blessed us and chose us to be the "Knudson family." Do we have our moments? Most certainly! I can still make my sister mad, which always hurts my heart! Our kids can fight and cry and scream. Our parents can still make us mad. We make mistakes, because we are real. We forgive, because we are family! Nothing changes that, and nothing breaks that. We forgive, just as we have been forgiven. We love just as we have been loved. Today I encourage you to thank God for your family, whether by blood or spirit. Get honest, get real, get goofy. Laugh a little, cry a little, love a little! Be proud of who you are, of who your family is! Claim them just as Christ claims us!

 

"Thank you Lord for this family I call mine! How blessed I am to walk the path of life with loving, honest, kind people. Help us to continue to grow stronger as a family and stronger as Christians. Continue to bless our time together as a family God and as this next generation grows up, help us to feed the seed of You in them. I pray in your name, Amen."