Annie, George, Me, Jon, Grace, Ella, and my Mom and Dad. (My brother Michael is serving a two year mission in Virginia)
Feeling especially grateful today for the things that matter most.
Sometimes it's easy to overlook each person in your life,
but when you really think about it, everyone you meet shapes you in one way or another.
They are each apart of your story, and each can teach you something that will make you a better person if you choose.
I've been blessed to be born into a great family, and especially as the oldest of six kids.
Growing up, I always felt a sort of guardian instinct over my 5 younger siblings.
It was difficult for me to go to college, and feel like I couldn't be as involved in their life as I really wanted to be.
But I've loved watching them grow and mature, and I love walking through the door of my house and seeing my little sisters eyes light up when they see that it's me.
I will always cherish the hours I spent playing house with them, helping them pick out their outfits for school, taking pictures together, having sleep overs in each others rooms, and day dreaming about what our life would be like years from now.
It's sad to watch them get older, and to know that that part of the story is coming to a close.
It's still weird for me to scroll through my instagram and see selfies from my 9 year old sister, Grace, on there.
I still remember feeding her a bottle and rocking her to sleep when she was a baby, and now she searches the web for cute ipod cases, and shops at H&M and Forever 21.
I seriously have the best siblings in the whole entire world,
and no matter how much time passes and how far away we live, I will always feel blessed to be a big sister.
I treasure the memories of the past, and look forward to what the future has in store.
And the best part is that as I've gotten older and as I made Jon a permanent part of my life,
I've gotten more family that I get to call my own.
I can't help but smile when I think of Jon's family (my other family).
They are some of the nicest and funniest people in the whole entire world,
and I don't know what I did to get so lucky to get to have two amazing families.
Each have taught me lessons I'll always cherish,
and when it's all said and done, it is the time we spent together that I will appreciate most.