family nights

I moved out of my parents house in February of 2010 and have done alot of growing up and finding out what the "real world" is about. Nothing comes easy, my dad jokes with me everytime I go to visit my parents and he ask me "you need some toilet paper?". When I first moved out I didnt realize what all it meant to be on my own and didnt think about the small things you would have to buy such as toilet paper and washing detergent. I would occasionally grab a few rolls from my parents house when i would stop by :) Dad caught me throwing the toilet paper in my car one time and its been a big joke between us since then.

 I have always been close to my family, but once I moved out my parents, (mainly dad) realized he didnt get to see me as often or spend as much time with me as we use to. For those of you that do not know, I have two half brothers (Jason and Rusty) who are both married (Bridgette and Angel) and both have boys (Pate,3 and Colin,8). Im sure you will hear plenty of stories about my nephews as my blog goes on as they are my heart!! About five months ago, dad decided to start "family night". Once a week...mom, dad, me, mark, rusty, angel, colin, jason, bridgette, and pate all sit down to have a family meal and spend some quality time together. Its funny cause dad will call me about four times the day that we have "family night" and make sure i'm coming! Dad is serious about family night and I will literally get in trouble if I miss it as well as my brothers who are in there 30's! :)) I take it forgranted alot but I am so blessed to have a family and a loving family at that. The older I get, the more and more I appreciate the little things.

Tonight was this weeks "family night". When I pulled up at mom and dad's, colin and pate came running to me yelling "aunt whitney!! aunt whitney!!". They make my heart fill with joy! Colin grabs my I-phone as he always does and begins playing a game while Pate ask me to help him build a fire. Dad had a few pieces of wood in the yard so I pile it up and pate is getting more and more excited by the minute. Once Colin realizes Pate is getting all my attention he decides to help us out too :) I was just going to pretend to roast marshmellows and act like we had lit the wood BUT.... Mark and my brother Jason had a better idea. They lit the wood on fire for the boys and they just thought they were so "cool". Its in those small moments that I realize that God has blessed me greatly. I dont know what I would do without my family. I love "family night" with my family and suggest that you start a "family night" too! :)


<3 whitney*deanne