I love my family.

Immediate family, extended family, and everyone in between, you all have a place in my heart.

I couldn't ask for better.

When searching through the Goodreads quotes section about family to get some ideas for this article, I kept coming across the bitter and jaded words of individuals who didn't seem to appreciate their families the same way I did mine. (To be fair, after the first page, there were an abundance of positive, thankful family quotes. Still, I write on.)

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations.”
- Oscar Wilde

"The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing for our families."
- Jay McInerne

Unlike the authors of the quotes above, some of my finest memories are of time spent with my siblings and cousins, having huge get-togethers, and driving across the country with my family to go to a cousin's wedding (something that seems to be happening with more and more frequency). I've spent time at relatives' homes in Missouri, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, Ohio, Canada, and all throughout southern California. I love how we bring out the best in each other, from eating the hottest of peppers (see here) and cliff jumping to singing hymns together at Christmas time. Also, it's great to have enough people to play full soccer games with!

The influence of my parents and grandparents cannot be overstated. Being able to grow up in such close proximity to my family has allowed me to observe their actions, how they treat one another, and how deeply they desire for their children to love the Lord. At my grandpa's 90th birthday celebration this past summer, I was touched by his heartfelt words of wanting his family to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. By listening to all the uncles and aunts sharing their stories, I learned of their resourceful and adventurous spirits, their vigor for life and hard working attitudes. They love to laugh. I've seen how they deal with stress and hard times, and I've learned from that as well.

I believe that one's family can be their most valuable support system. While away from home, it can be so, so easy to let new ideas, people, and worldviews into our lives. They're fresh, inspiring, and make us feel like a part of something bigger. Yes, these perspectives should be explored and pondered. No, they should not be innocently accepted without a second thought towards our core values. The sole reason for change should not just be because change is readily available. My relationship with God and my family form the foundation of who I am. Everything else is built on top of this.