An Overdue Tribute

So just now as I was reading my scriptures and studying I was just overcome with the Spirit of Gratitude. I thought of all my family and friends and realized how blessed I am to have such great people in my life and I had to say a prayer of thanks to God for all of them. And then I just really wanted to share why I thought each of them were so great. My first thought was to write them a letter, but then I remember that I'm a blogger now and I wanted to share it with everyone I know who will listen.

My family is a unique blend of individuals. We don't always get along and there have been times of struggle and times of grief and contention, but if you look at the family as a whole and not at just any one time, we are a family of support and forgiveness. There hasn't been any transgression that hasn't been forgiven or being worked on for forgiveness. There have been times that what would seem to cut you off forever has been forgotten and relations healed. When a sibling has strayed away from the rest, we speak of them in a loving way and maybe they don't know it, but they would be welcomed back with open arms.

I love my Dad. I'd like to think that his greatest frustration with his children is our stubborn indifference to what he tries to teach us. No matter the lesson, we've gone our way and disregarded his advice. We falter a lot and have learned the lessons he's taught us on our own and by our own mistakes. This isn't true in every case, but it's true for a lot of them. What I love about my dad is the determined manner in which he seeks to help us correct our wrongs. There isn't any amount of money or time that is too much when we need it. He is always there to help. Maybe he wants to still offer advice and maybe we don't want to hear it, but it's there and it's offered from a loving place that wants to see his children succeed in all they do. I can't imagine that there's anything I could do that would turn my father away from me. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that he loves me and he loves all his children and grandchildren.

I love my Mother, Ricky. She has taught me so much throughout the years. She has taught me to be an independant woman. She loves me and is concerned for me. And she knows what I need even when I haven't told her. She seeks all that is good and harmonious in her life and tries to be full of good and positive energy. She is also someone who would do whatever she could for her children. She doesn't always get listened to either in the way she may want. But she is a powerful force to be reckoned with and has taught her children to have that same voice. There isn't one of us who is meek or afraid to share what we think and we get that from her.

I love my Mother, Laura. I know that she has so many regrets in her life. She's told me the other day that she is waiting for the day that I will vent to her all my frustrations of my childhood. I told her then and I'll say it again, I love her and I don't hold grudges. I believe that all our experiences are growing experiences and I've learned from my past, mostly, not to let it hold me back or be an excuse to fail or not achieve my potential. I love my mom because she wants to be better and she never gives up that sweet hope that none of us should ever give up.

I love my Sister, Tara. She is 11 years older than me and it probably took 13 or so years after our families joined together before we really became to understand each other. But she has been an example to me of striving to be righteous. She's overcome a lot and has stayed true to her faith and that has given me an added measure of strength. Something I think she may be unaware of. I think a lot of her life and have always looked up to her and admired her endurance in the gospel and her success in life. She has a beautiful home and family. She has also shown great support to me in my greatest times of trial.

I love my Sister, Janna. I worshiped her as a child and I adore her as an adult. She is fun loving and always up for a good time. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders and is someone that I can always talk to. She's usually the first in the family to hear my concerns or secrets or fears and she's there to be an ear and support and help me decide the next course of action. A great tribute to Janna are her children and their love and support of their mother.

I love my Brother, Jeremy. No matter the consequence, Jeremy has always been at my defense. Sometimes maybe too strongly, but he has an unfallable sense of family loyalty. It has seemed at times that it was forgotten, but I know that it's still there. He's my example of what it means to stand firmly by your family and defend them at all costs.

I love my Brother, Forrest. He is eleven years my junior, but sometimes seems so much wiser than me. He is so accepting of all people and has such a sweet spirit about him. He was one of the wildest little boys to ever have lived on this earth but as he's gotten older and into adulthood, he has seemed so peaceful and loving. So often I think of a day when he was still in junior high and he had a huge birthday party. One boy was off by himself and wouldn't join in with anyone else. I remember pointing the boy out to Forrest and his thoughtful nod. This was Forrest's day. He could have easily decided that he didn't want to be bothered with taking care of someone else, but instead, he walked over, sat next to that boy on the stone wall and talked with him. I watched him. He had given that boy his full attention. He wasn't distracted with what was going on around them and he didn't look eager to get back to the festivities. He spoke with him, found out the personal reasons that this particular day was bad for the boy, gave him words of encouragement and invited him to join in when he was ready. Which he did later. I remember being in awe of my brother that day as I watched this exchange and as he confided in me what had been spoken. I watched that boy join in and enjoy the rest of his time there and I know it was in response to the kindness of my brother. This kindness has never ceased and I love him dearly for it.

There are a few people, not in my immediate family, but who have been such strong support to me that it would be negligent to not mention them here.

First is my friend Myke. He has grown to be someone who I consider my cheerleader. He offered eager support to me when I told him of my decision to move to Arizona and later I would find out, he had recruited his friends to help welcome me to this state. And they have and it has made a move to a state where I knew less than 5 people so much the easier. He is also someone that I know will help and support me in whatever way that he can. I know because he has so many times already. He cheers on my pursuits and encourages me to do the things that I'm scared to do, like start a blog. I'm grateful for him and his friendship.

Second, and I saved them for last, are my friends Kayla and Ryan Lange. Kayla was my roommate for almost three years. She's had to endure me at my worst times and as my worst self. Ryan, as her fiance, got a taste of that as well. Regardless of that, these two know all my secrets. They literally know everything there is to know about me, good and bad. And to say that they are my strongest supporters is understating it. They have seen and heard all my thoughts and feelings about things past and present and my fears for the future and they have offered nothing less than strong, spriritual hope and support. This isn't to undermine any of the strong support that I've received from my family and from other friends, but I feel like sometimes people hide parts of themselves from others, even if it's just a little bit. I've hidden nothing from them and it hasn't made any difference.

If you didn't see your name on this list please do not be offended by it. I'm grateful each day for every single person who has shown me love and support and offered words of encouragement. I'm amazed at the quality of people who fill my life and there are so many who don't know that they are examples to me in one way or another. But the people above bear special mention because of their significant influence in my life.

This post would be a waste, however, if I failed to mention the one great support and source of strength to me beyond any other. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and God, His Father. All the talents and strengths I have come from them. I've overcome great trials and temptations with their help and guidance. I have a powerful testimony of the truthfulness that they do exist. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the love that I feel from them and the patience they show me. It is UNDENIABLE to me. I'm grateful for the sacrifices of the early saints in the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of Christ's church. That Joseph Smith and so many others sacrificed their lives is unfathomable to me but I know that their testimonies and work have brought the gospel into my life. And I'm forever grateful to them for it.

The person who I am today and the person that I will become is attributable especially to God and Christ but also to the people mentioned above and everyone else who has supported me over the years. I'm grateful and I wanted to say thank you and tell you all how much I love you.