This has been the first day at home with great weather and to kick it off my youngest sister had a track meet. Man I was definitely going! Those sunrays and I needed to meet once again. (the countless rainy, cold, dingy days in Minneapolis were no more!!) But I have to tell you, this was not your ordinary track meet. This particular event was exclusively for Christian schools and homeschoolers....and you could tell the difference between the two. My family and I stuck out like a sore thumb too. We each had a starbucks coffee in hand, shorts on, we were loud, and I think we laughed more than any of the people there. I'm sure someone thought we were all crazy.
But who gives a rip.
Today my family meant so much to me. I realized just how dear and special they are to my heart and soul. They make my heart happy. Like today when my dad, sister and I went to pick up starbucks for all of us, my dad was so funny ordering the drinks. The drinks had to be correct. It just made chuckle. And when we were at the track meet, my parents were so involved in all of the events. They made sure the kids were at the right stations (and the right running lane!) They cheered them on even if they were dead last. It didn't matter to them either way. As I scanned the crowd and saw all of these families...I realized how blessed I was. I had great, loving, caring, funny, determined, Christian, real, authentic, wise, willing, supportive, amazing, gracious, coffee-crazed parents who would do anything for me. They would (and do) put their lives on the line just to see me learn and grow.
My dad and I had a conversation today on the ride home from the track meet. After I talk with my dad I always feel wiser and as if I know more. He and I were just talking about character and faithfulness and how true that needs to be in our lives. It just kind of hit me like a truck; at the end of the day it is my character and faith that matter. The actions that I have during the day make me who I am and it is my faith that keeps it all together. Faith imparts action and action imparts hope. Does that make sense? It's our faith without seeing but trusting that what we don't see will take us somewhere wonderful. It's like we take a chance with life and just believe that we didn't miss the mark. Just take everyday at a time.
But back to my family.
We had a great time at the track meet. We were also going to Montana today too so we had to get ready for that. But one thing about my family, we get so distracted so easily. I think that while we were packing we found things that we did not know we had and talked about them with one another. I remember my youngest sister having a giggle fest with herself in the living room and when I caught her giggling, it turned into a roaring laugh. You've got to love innocent hearts. My favorite part about packing up and heading out somewhere with my family are the remarks that are made to each other. The remarks are normally targeted towards the person who is the most sensitive at the time and/or who packed the most. Today it was Audrey (the middle, neglected, forgotten and whatever else she calls herself middle child) and my mom (I swear she packed up everything and the kitchen sink!). We usually laugh away every comment and silence out every bad one... Road trips with my family are a blast too. We usually find some odd radio station and jam out to it. Today it was some heavy, metal rock band gone really bad and we all loved it. I think my mom was head banging, my dad was trying to stay on the road because he was laughing so hard, and Anika (my youngest sister) was trying to videotape the whole thing. In the end, I think we had the greatest laughs because we all knew we were silly. It is the times and moments like these were I feel free and happy. I am with the people that I love the most, they know most everything about me, and I can be Annie-Laurie around them.
I love my beautiful, amazing, caring, loud, crazy, hilarious, normal, God-fearing, determined family.
I dont have enough time tonight because it is getting late and I have to get up tomorrow for a family gig but I want to write a whole blog about my family. Each one of them are so dear to me. They individually each bring something different to the family and to my life. So definitely expect that very soon.
