siblings

two unrelated pictures. when i stumbled upon the scenes i found myself smiling. 

having siblings isn't always peaches and cream.  i know.  it can be more like oil and water...

but more often than not, in our daily life here, there are glimpses of real bonds that run deep.  some days i must search high and low to see it with my own children~ only to never really find it on the day i'm looking.  other days, however, i see different pairings shine with obvious connections that will carry them, we hope, for life...

i loved having two brothers, especially as i got older into my teen years (might have had something to do with their cute friends :) i'm positive i wasn't subtle about how i felt about them either)...  i still do love my older brothers deeply.  one is close by, and one feels very far.  my heart aches with the distance between us.  even still, the memories we hold from our childhood are very grounding to me. we three had our share of antics, scraps (why did Tim insist on crossing over the imaginary line in the back seat?? and why did Joe always get to read the cereal box while we ate breakfast?  it couldn't have possibly taken that long either....sheeshh...) laughs, tears, and funny memories together...

in theory, even for our own kids~ these memories should be foundational.  family ties should hold tightly.  as we branch away in different directions, the roots are still needed for life-giving support.  i think that was God's design.  i pray it will be so for my crew of six....

 

 

above, teaching the fine art of the "selfie", and below, a cheap haircut by the older sister.  turned out alright!!

personally, even a quick stroll through an old photo album with weathered pages brings back loads of memories. or a few minutes of video footage from years gone by can surface all the reminders of a family that is cherished, with common experiences shared...so, maybe this blog will be that reminder for our kids one day...