A Sunday Afternoon.

¹fam·i·ly

\ˈfam-lē, ˈfa-mə-\ : a group of individuals living under one roof and under one head.: a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation.

The warm wind blew in our faces as we walk down the street to the park. Sunday afternoons are always my favorite. Several Baseball bats rested against my shoulder and the carton of two dozen baseballs were held by my older brother as he walked beside me. I could hear the coos from my baby nephew in his stroller a few feet ahead, being encouraged by my little sister. Taking two steps for every one that my brother took, we finally arrive at the field. The sun bathed down on me as I swung for the first time this year. I breathed in the smell of the dirt on the field and sigh to myself. Nothing was better than a Sunday afternoon with my family. After a few hours of hearing that crack as the bat hit the ball, chasing home-runs, and rolling up my jeans to fish them out of the pond, we packed up and walked back home. What follows after this scene can only really be understood and appreciated by those who have experience pure joy in being with one’s family. The afternoon was filled with the smell of charcoal as my brother grilled our hamburgers; potato salad; the sounds from the front yard as the boys played with remote control cars; my super cute adorable nephew on the floor giggling with his Grandpa; sermon discussions at the dinner table; piling into the van for a spontaneous trip..only to find out the store is closed early because it's Sunday; driving back laughing and voicing our opinions on where we should go next; Trader Joe's Ice cream run, free “healthy” suckers, and a couple packs of cookies for the lactose intolerant people; Root Beer floats with straws in mason jars; breaking out the board games; taking 45 minutes to decide and vote on a movie, only to fall asleep twenty minutes into it; and lots of hugs and kisses as my sister, brother-in-law and sweet nephew leave. Days like these make me happy. :)

God has blessed me with my family. I am so thankful everyday for each of them. I may not have the biggest family, the smartest family, the richest family, or the most "perfect" family, but to me they are my whole world. I love the way I can talk to them and share my hopes, dreams, and aspirations, and they won't think me too inadequate. I love it how I can come home from having the worst Jonah day and their smiles make all the frustrations melt away. I enjoy being with my friends and visiting different places, but at the end of the day there really is no where I'd rather be more than at home.

I can't live without coming home each day and discussing the day's events with my Mom, knowing that she cares for every little detail that happens in my life; big or little. No matter how old I get I will still love to climb up and sit in my Dad's lap with his arms wrapped around me, feeling that sense of protection and confidence to know that I am protected and nothing will happen to me. I don't think I could live without my older brother teasing me [as much as I whine about it. : P ]. I couldn't live without going out together for last minute Christmas gifts; random Starbucks dates; superhero movies and pizza at midnight; Summer time bike rides; lazy weekends spent aching to plan something exciting and instead ending up having the best time doing nothing! I love those nights when my sister and I whisper in our beds for hours. We share our stories and our worries, our thoughts and our problems, our plans for tomorrow, and our unanswered prayers for today. Then we laugh into our pillows until we have tears in our eyes. We go on and on until there is an air of silence and one of us stops answering..... or until Mom tells us to "go to sleep because it is way past our bedtimes". Those times I wouldn't trade for anything. I am thankful for the way my little brother hugs me, and comes to tuck me in at night. I like the funny way he reads "Max and the Chocolate Chicken" out loud, or just randomly runs his fingers through my hair.

Trust me, we have our moments, but it's those that make us closer and stronger. All of us put together are crazy and surprisingly really loud [Well, we are Italian]. We know how to have fun, and we have the most fun when we are just with each other. I like the million words we can communicate through that little secret look we give each other across the room. I try to contain my giggles at all the inside jokes we have, for there are way too many to count. I love the looks on people's faces when we walk into a store or a building, laughing and joking with beaming faces. I hold tight to the memories we have, knowing that they won't last forever. One day we will all be grown up and have families of our own, making our own memories. :) "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”- Joshua 24:15.

Thank you Lord for your blessings however small they come. Forgive me for overlooking them at times and for not being thankful and for my moments of frustrations. I am truly grateful for my family, and wouldn't trade them for a million different ones. And even though they are crazy, I have to remember I am too....that's why I fit so well. ;)

"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life--to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories."-George Eliot.

Green Floral Tape, M&M's, and Baby Spoons.

"Determining to be creative" week. ;)

Baby Sock Bouquet. Made with a little help from my "super smart" older brother, and my Mom's creative arranging skills.

Note: Floral tape is very sticky, and by the end of the process your hands could most likely get stuck together. :P

Baby towels and spoons.

Homemade M&M cookie mix for a Birthday party. Measured, leveled, and layered in a Mason jar. ;)

Of Mint Leaves and Spring Days.

Today was a spring day: the smell of fresh mulch; the cool breeze flowing through my bedroom; the taste of a juicy plum; sun on my face; the grass on my bare-feet; spring dresses; birds chirping; tulips growing; trees budding; the smell of the first mint leaves. Yes, it was one of those days that reminded me of being a kid again. I can remember being ten and waking up to the first rays of sunshine through my window. I can remember the anxious feeling tickling my insides as I rushed to finish up my schoolwork on those Spring days. The whole world [well, the backyard might have been the whole world in my ten year old eyes] was waiting for me.

All winter I would long for the day I could run outside without shoes or socks and pack up those school books for three whole months, the days I could have my bike sit outdoors, have fortresses up in the trees, and battles in the front yard. These were days that promised so much more exciting and fascinating summer times in just two short months. They promised hot humid days being cooled off in the pool, sweet homemade lemonade out of mason jars and endless nights of crouching behind trees with bated breath as I waited for the fireflies to light up. It promised more nights of baking cookies with Dad, and ending them with flashlight tag at the park.

I can remember the lazy summer feeling and waking up each morning so excited to see what adventure lay ahead for me. It reminds me of Mom's laundry out on the line, and the smell of the clean white cotton pillowcases, of our morning chores and our fresh fruit for breakfast. It reminds me of the afternoons resting on the window seat, sun peering through the "Toy Story" clouds on our sun-kissed faces, wind blowing through our messy ragged hair, and Mom reading "On the Banks of Plumb Creek" to us. Summer nights meant staying up later watching Andy Griffith reruns, and reading "Story Time with the Millers". It meant Popsicles and Ice Cream; gardens and flowers; walks and park days; baseball and friends; chalk and bubbles; bike rides and Jeep rides ;) and falling asleep each night to the chirp of crickets out my window.

A Spring day like today is a promise for a Summer like those I remember--even though I'm not ten anymore. :]