I'm behind in blogging!

Now that THAT is out in the open.....

This past weekend was full of excitement. Josiah's family (most of them) came out to Arizona to spend Memorial Day weekend reconnecting with each other. From California, Colorado, & Kentucky. His older sister, Jenna, has a friend who lives here and was going to be out of town for the weekend, and offered her house as a place to gather to spend time together. I'm not sure if her friend realizes how much that meant to most of us.

Shortly before I started blogging, I began having these feelings of sadness, for the fact that I didn't know any of my husband's family very well. A good portion of them moved away within our first year of marriage. Since then, I've had thoughts that many of them hadn't gotten a chance to get to know me very well and decided from what they did know, that I didn't fit the image of what they thought should be married to their brother/son. As much as Josiah would try to convince me otherwise, I just couldn't see how he could be right. I tend to lack certain social skills so I don't really put myself out there.

When the whole blogging thing came into the picture, I was still just reading everyone's and not leaving comments. I was known as "a blog stalker". That was when I really found myself being sad that I didn't know them very well. I mean, here I was getting to know them a little via their blogs, but still, they weren't getting a chance to know me, and that for whatever reason just really made me sad. I remember one day actually being in tears over it. I longed for a relationship with my in-laws. Something that so many people get to have and I think take for granted. I've always thought that I was lucky because I married into such an amazing family. Well finally my mil posted on her blog that all of her children (and children-in-law) needed to start blogging. I think that was about the first time that I left a comment and said "here I am!" Ever since then, I've felt connected and have loved getting to know them (atleast the one's who blog) better! Once I found out that everyone was coming into town, I was overjoyed! There were new spouses and a couple new nieces and nephews that I hadn't met. Mostly I was just excited to be able to spend some time with these people and get to know them over again, in real life!

What a diverse family they are but still so much love goes around. Over the 10+ years that Josiah and I have been married, I've suggested many times that he call his siblings or parents, or that we go and visit some of them here or there. I have always been very close to my family and so it wasn't easy for me to grasp why he wouldn't want to just pick up the phone to say "hey" or take a couple days to go and visit. I mean, I realize trips like that need to be planned, especially when saving money isn't our best quality as a couple. There were some opened wounds there still though from things that happened in the past. I often suggested he just let them go, but it was easier for me to say than for him to do. Especially since I didn't have to live through them. I'm not 100% sure what his thoughts and feelings were as this family reunion was approaching. I do know however, that he enjoyed every minute that he got to spend with his family. I was a little surprised but very happy to hear him suggest that we all plan to get together every year. It seemed as though each of his siblings that were there, and his mom too of course, thought it would be a great idea. I already can't wait for the next one! We love you all so much! Hopefully any negative feelings that were brought to the surface over this past weekend will be let go.

And of course, I spent too much time enjoying the time that was being spent with everyone, to take the time to take more pictures! But here are a few that I got, which I think are different from some that other's got....









Until next time...