I am so grateful...thankful...and blessed with my family. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful little boy, loving parents that I can talk to, sisters that I love and laugh with. A family of in-laws that has welcomed me and made me feel at home. I am thankful for friends to talk with, share problems with and laugh until we cry with. I am blessed with a church family that I look forward to seeing and worshiping with every week. I am thankful for Mark's job and his drive to take care of Eddie & me. I am thankful for my Dad's job and that I can work for him and try to keep him organized and the flexibility that I can still spend most of my time with Eddie. I am thankful for my sister's job and the nice people that she works with. I could go on and on with how God has blessed me.
In the past weeks I have been reminded of how blessed I am with a big family. My mom is from a big family and now all of us make a BIG family.
My mom is one of 13. Thirteen children. One...Three. Some days I have problems with one child. I don't know how my grandma did it. I think of her often now that I'm a mommy.
This is one of my favorite pictures from my mom's childhood. My mom is #6. Everyone goes by their number. We do everything by number. If my dad ever needed a name tag it would say...Cal married to #6.
From left to right: Ann, Warner, Carolyn, Nancy, Gayle, Faith, Dan, Dawn, Janice, Kristi, Duke, John, Steve and my Grandpa & Grandma.
They had a lot of fun growing up together. It also sounds a bit wild and crazy from the stories that I've been told. They have remained very close. My mom talks to her sisters all the time and they get together weekly.
Here is a more recent photo of them all...
Earlier this month, my Aunt Carolyn, #3, joined my grandparents in heaven. It still doesn't feel real. We are getting together next week for my cousin's wedding and then for Christmas and I know I'm going to look for her even though I know she's gone.
Her health went down quickly and in the last few weeks I was grateful to see the love that my mom and her sisters have for each other. It was beautiful. They took turns helping my aunt and making sure she had whatever she needed. I am grateful that we were able to spend time with her on Thanksgiving. I am grateful that when she wanted peppermint ice cream my cousin went and bought every brand the store had in hopes of getting the right one. I am grateful for the memories and the fun that I've had with her.
When I think of my aunt, I can't help but think of my wedding dress. I remember at my dress fitting telling the seamstress that I didn't want it bustled, I wanted the train cut off and made into a little swoop. She thought I was nuts. As soon as the lady left the room my mom leaned over and told me...don't worry, Aunt Carolyn will take care of it. And she did. Days before the wedding I stood on a stool in my parents' room as my aunt asked me 5 times if I was sure I wanted the back cut off. I said yes...and she cut the back off. She made my dress perfect. I spent the morning with my aunt and my mom while she sewed, talking and listening to them talk. I've always loved listening to my mom talk to her sisters. I don't know why...but I enjoy it.
I don't want to forget how she said my name. She still called me Jenny and somehow she emphasized the second n in my name.
I scanned in a lot of family photos for a slide show that played at visitation. These are a couple favorites. As I looked at old photos I was amazed at how much we all look alike. The De Leeuw genes are strong.
An old one...
A recent one with her grandson...
And this one just makes me smile. My aunts' skirts were all seriously short and my Uncle Bob looks like a hippie.
I am grateful for my family. For the ones still here and the ones that have gone ahead. They have all helped make me who I am. I love them all. I know the coming weeks are going to be hard for my mom. If you could remember her, her sisters, my cousins... our whole family in prayer, I would be grateful.
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