"By their fruits ye shall know them..."

I have spent another evening immersed in the lives of my immediate and extended family via bloggs. Reading and enjoying their voices that come through so easily, my mind and heart are full of them and I feel inspired to write a few thoughts of my own. Since a young girl I have felt connected with the faith of my forefathers and mothers in a very deep and abiding way, truly it is imbedded in my blood. There is a connection in my family, amongst my siblings and cousins in particular,that binds us from the memories and time spent together in my youth to the places we are scattered throughout the world today. I love them. There is no other group of people I enjoy more and there is definately no other group of people I would rather be with in the deserts of Southern Utah or the living room of my parent's home. It is hard for me to put into words the places they fill in my heart. I am so very proud of the life each and every one of them lives. They inspire me. Through the challenges and trials of this life that same beliving blood that runs through my veins, runs through theirs. It saddens me a bit when I think how long it has been since we all talked and laughed until the wee hours of the morning or sat around the campfire listening to "Uncle Zedikiah" stories or shared in an Easter Devotional surrounded by red rock canyon. These memories make-up much of the fibers of who I am. It saddens me that as a grown women I am not more involved in their lives, my own fault. I love that I am inspired to be better, kinder, more faithful and adventurous by them. I love that I have a model of wife, mother, sister and friend when I follow the pattern of their lives. Each of them carries an inner light that invites and attracts much goodness. Even in times of great personal challenge, that light remains lit. I love the way we love eachother. It is without conditions, without the sap and with a familiarity that allows us to pick-up where we left off, no matter the passage of time. So here is a toast to my family, every last one of them. May we soon be found laughing, sharing and making memories for our children's generation and may your inner light continue to uphold the faith of those from whence we came.