more thankfulness

Well of course I have more. This may be a long post, peppered with random pictures of ones I love.

My family is very dear to me. I happen to think that my parents are two of the most wonderful parents in the entire world, and they raised me along with my three best friends. And then, I married into a very loving family. How great!

First, a word about my parents. They are just two very good people, who fell in love in high school, got married, and started a family. And with the marriage brought an amazing relationship, where they were a team, and together they took on four girls, and kept all of them! (Even through Junior High!) They love each other. A lot. They really love us. And really really love their grandbaby. I am so thankful that they have modeled to me what happens when you really put 100% into your family and marriage. Good things!

Now, my sissies. We have four very different personalities, but we have the same smile and laugh, same voices, and sense of humor. (Check out my sister's free love philosophy) My poor husband and brother-in-law and other boys who have to hang out with us four together really are probably quite annoyed by us. We played Barbies together until we were grown, we have dance parties until 5 in the am, play stupid games made up on the spot, and even have a super secret Facebook group. Don't even try searching for it, it's secret. And I would say 90% of the conversation revolves around how much we love and miss each other (NONE of us live together anymore) The other 10% are daily musings from us. Beyond the fun and laughter we share, we support each other. And boy do we love each other. I love my sisters to pieces (or peices, as Loo would write.) They make me who I am, with all my goofy manerisms. (annurisms?)

And I'm even more thankful for my brother-in-law and my sister, expecting their first baby in February. Ella will finally have a cousin!! I can't wait to meet that sweet little girl. She will have such wonderful parents! Yay!

If you think that's great, you should meet my in-laws. Spencer's family is wonderful, and we are blessed to be so close to them! They are very patient with my non-ranching background and welcomed me with open arms. I even got myself another brother!! Very exciting, considering all the girls I've been around my whole life.

And that's not all, because everyone knows that when you get married, you marry into the whole family, all the cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents. Since both of our extended families are pretty big, it would take me years to pinpoint how thanksful I am for each and every one of them. Maybe someday I will :)

But, in general, my mom's six sisters have wonderful laughs, all the same, they married great men, and made great families with lots of cousins to play with. Now those cousins are having their own babies and the Aasen clan is ever-expanding. Bless my grandma Marjorie! My dad's family is also very wonderful. They too are very loving and competitive... you should check out Wii tournaments over Christmas.

Spencer's family is very loving and wonderful. How did I get so lucky? Mary's family has shown me another side of artistic, with paintings, quilts, house flipping, and embroidery. They are a very talented bunch, who love and support each other so much! (Remember Sagebrush Art Gallery? If you're ever in town, check it out. You will be dazzled.) And our working ranch family brings a whole other meaning to family harmony. They are incredibly hard workers, who do what they love and will continue in order to pass on the ranch for generations to come. It is so great to have family close by, because it makes me forget how homesick I always am :)

So this thanksgiving, I am giving many many thanks to the wonderful life I have. Trust me, I am grateful. It's what fills my heart with joy everyday.