My Tribe

I saw a quote today and I LOVED it! "Find your tribe and love them hard". Oh how perfect! My tribe is amazing! These four little people (one we can't wait to meet, but no doubt just as

amazing as the others!) and my partner, my awesome tribe leader. 😊

Often when Chris returns home from work or before we call it a night, I kinda give him the run down of the day and tell him who gets the "happiest tribe member award", the "grumpiest", the "funniest", "most helpful" and so on. I'm able to tell him the details and how each earned this award and we laugh and soak in the memories of the day. They are my tribe, my life.

My tribe. Oh how I love them and they love me. I'm so greatful for our tribe leader, who loves us and loves us hard. Y'all! He puts up with a lot and never seems inconvenienced or undone, I know there are days when he's taken 500 calls, fixed 500 problems and worked for other people from the time he left in the morning until returning late afternoon or evening. And then, without batting an eye jumps right in the moment he walks in the door to hear all the kids want to share and his wife who rarely has an adult to speak to until his return, meaning, I'm ready! ;) Exhausted, worked out, and yet still loves us with the best of him! 

The kids! My sweet tiny tribe members. They are the ones we do this for. To see them bonding more with each other every day is so special. We will soon welcome the baby of the tribe! The last one and for that, we are all excited and counting down the days! This little one has no idea what he/she is getting themselves into but we can't wait to welcome them to our tribe and love them hard!

There's so many who love our tribe and we couldn't be more grateful for that. There's family....grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. So many of them are there to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and the kids activities and sports with us whenever possible. The kids love having them be a part of their life and sharing their accomplishments, as do we! 

There's also our church family that love our tribe! We are so blessed to be a part of a church family who would do just about anything for you. When we, and other members of our church, recall every major event in life...confirmation, graduations, marriage, the births of our children, baptisms, hardships, they have been and will be there! And then the week to week, Sunday school teachers who love and teach the children. Our church is blessed with a wonderful pastor and family who are so present. And the people, the wonderful caring people who make up the church. What a special special treasured extended family to have! It's one of those "families" you know will ALWAYS be there. 

And friends. Not just acquaintances but the real friends that help get you from one day to the next! No complicated, questionable, superficial friends, but the ones who you know you can call/text anytime and be honest and raw with. The ones you know love you for you and build you up.  The real ones, the genuine ones. The VERY few people who you find in this life that love as hard as you do,  and when you find them, don't let go! And of course, there's no doubt you get hurt and lose some in the process of finding these friends. I can think of some who I would absolutely consider part of my tribe! My first friend, a cousin, yet sister, who has walked every step of the way with me and just gets me. Not a day goes by when we don't talk. There's no work involved in maintaining our relationship, it's just effortless, drama free, and real! My childhood friend who I've been so fortunate to walk through every milestone of teenage years to adulthood with and we still can share so many moments together. We live miles apart and yet we pray together, laugh together, and cry together. It's these kind of friends that you just know there's nothing hidden, there's nothing to figure out, just being yourself and being loved. There's new friends, old friends, family friends, and everything in between. And each one placed in your life for a reason, sometimes only a season, and it is my prayer that I'm able to provide them with the same genuine, effortless, friendship and love they give me.

I know everyones tribe looks different. But these people, the ones who make up our tribe and love our tribe, what a treasure! God knew just who I needed and I will love those He gives me and love them hard. Being a girl who I am with the experiences I have...loving hard, genuine, and drama free is by far one of the most important things to me in this life. So thank you, Lord, for My tribe and may I always love them hard and with all the love they deserve! And may you too, "find your tribe and love them hard"!❤️