annuntiatio.: My Family

"Every family is like a bowl of cereal: a mixture of nuts, fruits, and even a few flakes."

The way I introduce my family says a lot about them; and, I must add in all equality, the way any of them introduce me says a lot about me.... so I shall be both fair and fun in this introduction to my family members.

I have been blessed to grow up in a Christian home with both my parents and three amazing older siblings. Being the youngest (or, as my family loves to call me, "the baby") has it's advantages and disadvantages; I have been able to observe my brothers and my sisters in their actions, and from an early age, I learned to discern what was right and wrong- with much credit to the Biblical foundations my mom and dad laid down for us. In some areas I have imitated my siblings, and there are some things I have not tolerated or applauded; but as the years have passed, I've been graced with the wisdom to see how the dynamics of our family work together to create a beauty of a masterpiece. So here are some pieces to the puzzle:

{Ha. Leave it to the budding photographer kid to make mom & dad do a Wild West pose.}

In all seriousness, now. These are my parents:

{Dad & Mom, at Mackinaw Island}

Their "how we met" story is one of the cutest you'll ever hear; but of course, you'll have to ask them about yourself.

My mom was raised Catholic, participated in school sports, graduated with flying colors and, by and by, ended up marrying my dad. For as long as she can remember, she had always wanted to be a teacher; after several years of serving on the local school board, she decided to home school her children. Yay, Mom! :)

My dad, also raised in a Catholic family (of 7 kids, no less!) is a big game hunter, mechanic, football coach, amateur comedian, and all-around handyman. To be honest, I cannot remember ever having another person come into our house or our garage to fix something. My dad has always done it. :)

Both my parents came to Christ after they married; their journey of faith has been one of tears and laughter, as they are the only children in both their families to break away from the Catholic church and pursue Christianity. I am so proud of them and very thankful for everything they have done for their family and kids. They have instilled in my brothers a strong, Michigan work ethic, the concept of modern-day chivalry, and the biblical values needed to become a strong man of God. And, since my sister and I were very little, my parents have taught us to be God-fearing young women, to know the value of honor, femininity and virtue, and through many resources and books which we have read together over the years, our “mum” has taught us the many aspects of biblical womanhood and the lady’s role in the home and in society. Absolutely nothing could substitute for the hands-on training we have received, though, especially through the joys and experiences of living life in the country, where we cut and stack our own wood for heat and hang laundry out on the line whenever we can (by “whenever”, I mean any day in Michigan from February to November when it is not raining or snowing!)

Now, for my beloved brethren...

{Tim & me}

We'll start with Tim, my youngest big brother. :) Not only is he a huge Michigan fan, an Eagle Scout, a computer whiz, and a great speaker (and, I might add, I think he sings pretty well, too!), he is a regular sarcastic jester, is great for hugs and has an incredible gifting as a teacher. If not for Tim, I never would have thought I could be a softball pitcher; but, with his training, I became the #1 pitcher for my team for 2 years.

{Ben, Becca & Ava}

This is Ben, my manly-man oldest brother. In 2009, he married miss Becca Jo Tinklenberg. Ben is the kind of guy who loves fishing, farming, football, country music and going out into the woods, either to hunt or, as my sister and I love to joke, he will "just chop down a few trees for fun". He is a fantastic cook, plays basketball, and is a wonderful dad. He's also the one who taught me how to throw a football like a pro. :) I'm proud to say I have a brother who practically lives in camouflage and cowboy boots.

I am also excited to say that my sister-in-law and I share many likes, one of them being chemistry. In fact, she is a chemist. More than that, she is a fabulous cook, crafter, mother, homemaker and friend. She and Ben together also parent three great dogs- big dogs, I should say- whose names are Toby, Sam and Brewster.

Wondering who that little muchkin is in the first photo? Well, as you may have guessed, that is my adorable niece, Ava Josephine. She is truly the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen.

{Ava rockin' it out on her horsie!}

Ava was born February 3rd, 2012. She is the sweetest, most expressive little baby!

{Isn't this amazing? She was only in the world for about five hours when this picture was taken.}

Imagine how photogenic she will be when she grows up!

{...and here she is with her Grandpa, at 1 month old.}

She now has lots of teeth, and is starting to walk a bit. Ben told me she "found her voice" a few days ago, and is now shrieking in delight at everything funny (I said, "just watch: she might grow up to be a singer!" haha... brother simply glared at me.)

But enough of the little peanut.

And now for my favorite sister... :)

{My dear sister Becky (left) & me (right)!}

This is my very best friend Becky. (I like to introduce her that way, then tack on that she is "also my sister".) When we were little, we almost always got along; but it wasn't until about five years ago that she and I decided that as sisters, we could and should be best friends, and ever since then, we are absolutely inseparable in our relationship.

Growing up, we did practically everything but burn the house down together. ;) One of our greatest pastimes is playing dolls together, creating great stories and adventures with amazing plot and dialogue, most of them taking place in imaginary medieval period lands, with villages, fields, and castles (the playroom upstairs, the window seat and the steps) as the sets, and endless princess dresses and homemade capes for our Barbies (if you ever want to know about our amazing theatricals, you have only to ask me!). Little drama queens that we were, we acted out countless tales without endings and went on many adventures together in our imaginations. I must confess that I was often the little sister who was always bugging big sister to “stop reading that book and play!”. :)

As we grew older, our activities together turned to composing real stories, board games, sports, ballet, puzzles, and more and more genuine conversation. Everything there was to talk about, we could find a way to talk to each other about it, whether it be while doing the dishes or in the garden, or in our beds late at night. We have endured much together, and we have grown closer with every passing year. (I'm sure I will have a post exclusively for my sis fairly soon.) :) I so appreciate my sister and the confidence I have found in her company; I truly could not ask for a better or more beautiful best friend and sister.

So there you have it.