Ode to my family

Right... puke post coming up, but I wanted to share with you why I think my family is simply the best - (better than aaaall the rest)

Daddy - 

My father is a happy and sociable person. He is a heart on his sleeve kind of man - all or nothing. He's got a natural ability at dancing, and a gift when it comes to gardening and capturing moments in photography. He's a story teller and people find the many stories he has facinating, and some surprising (he worked for Linda McCartney briefly don't you know?). My daddy and I haven't always had the most ideal father-daughter relationship, when I was going through my teen years, I was a bit stroppy (a lot stroppy some days), and the person who got the brunt of that was my dad - poor man. Our relationship managed to survive my teens, and other than a couple of bumps along the road, we are closer than we've been for a good long while. I'm grateful for daddy's love for his children and love for having fun with us all growing up. His grandkids love spending time with him because he has no qualms in getting down to their level and having person to person fun. 

Mummy - 

My mummy is the most self sacrificing person I've met (I had initially written "one of the most", but changed it, because, genuinely, no one I know comes close). Over the last 42 years of being a mother to 8 children she has always put her own needs to one side, and done what she can for her kids. The most recent for us was letting us live with her, not only once, but twice whilst we were in between houses. That is a huge sacrifice - from being a lone wolf in a 3 bed semi detatched, to suddenly being filled with 4 more strong personalities, and yet, always it was "It's fine, don't rush into the wrong house - we'll see it through". She is kind and strong. She ran a busy business whilst we were growing up, still making sure we had a good breakfast, packed lunches at school, dinner at home (half the meals for the week was shared with my dad for some of the years I think), and bedtimes were met. I genuinely don't know how she did it all. She is artistic - each grandchild has a beautiful drawing made for them when they are born (or within a couple months after if she's especially busy! :) ), she also is practical - the number of times that woman has repainted her house and revamped her garden! She's in her late 60s and never gets anyone in to help out! She is an organiser, a do-er, a faithful and dedicated follower of Christ, a helpful and fun mamgu to 20.5 (one sister is pregnant) grandchildren and an amazing storyteller. 

(Yes by the way, I still call my parents mummy and daddy)

Number 1 - S

My big brother S is calm and kind, he approaches things from every angle, so as not to make a snap decision on something or someone. He is highly creative and a gifted writer (a published writer I'll have you know), he has a natural talent with words and phrases, so much so that in the last few years he's become a qualified teacher (teaching History and English). He's inquisitive - when he finds something that interests him, he will delve into it as much and as far as he can. He has recently got into ancestry and has discovered some amazing things about my maternal side - we have some incredible connections in the past. S is forgiving and patient and willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt, in the few times that I've seen him become angry (and these are far and few between), he will go out of his way to apologise and make everything right. I really do look up to S, and am very grateful for him being my biggest big brother.

Number 2 - E

E is a wonderful big sister, she is 10 years older than me, and so by the time she finally had a sister (B) she was more of a helper than a play mate. Whilst I always looked up to her and, to an extent, idolised her, it wasn't until my mid teens that we became close. She is a wonderful sister - she always looks out for me and the rest of her family, she's a wonderful wife and mother to her husband and kids. She works so hard too - how she has coped with 16 years of night shifts, plus being a full time mother, I'll never understand (I get ratty from my 5am starts!). She knows how to have fun and has a very contagious laugh. She gives great advice and is kind about others. She is dedicated and works hard in the things she puts her mind to. She is patient and gives people the benefit of the doubt, but she is not a push over - whilst she approaches people with kindness, she will fiercely defend those she loves. She is a dedicated nurse, and is constantly striving to better herself, currently through gaining further qualifications. Oh and she has the most beautiful singing voice, it has brought many a people to tears (in a good way ;) )

Number 3 - G

G is someone that I've come to know a lot better since moving to our current home, this is because we now live 40 odd minutes away, and so have seen each other a lot more. G is great fun to be with, he knows how to make people laugh, and to make people feel comfortable around him. He and Big A have great banter between them and have enjoyed many a long chat - involving plenty of laughter. He is theatrical and a great singer - he attends and participates heavily in many groups and activities. We have watched a couple of his shows, and whilst I am sure I am biased, I do genuinely think that he is the star of the show. He plays (hahahaa like my play on words there? ;) ) hard, and he also works very hard for his family - he has had some crazy hours at his place of work, but has seen them through, and progressed within his company to someone highly valued and respected (I happen to know this from Big A's company's interactions with G's company)

Number 4 - M

M is the big brother that was closest to me in age, I was utterly besotted with him as a child - so much so that I would tail him around asking what I could do - in the end I (and I think another sibling) became known as MSS - Matthew's Silly Slave. Hah! The things you do as kids! Our relationship has (thankfully) progressed past that, though I would still happily do anything for him. M has a very calming influence and he gives the best hugs - they were known by lots of people in the youth group we attended as teenagers. He definitely knows how to have fun and get the most out of life, he's a jet setter, and I think probably seen the most countries out of all of us siblings. He is athletic and always up for trying new things. I'm always amazed by the pictures he shares of his amazing water/desert sports. M loves people, and he makes sure people know they are loved - he is generous and loving, and is a great protector of those he cares about. He lives in the UAE, so I don't get to see him as often as I would like, but love to spend time with him when I can.

Number 5 - B

Photo from Whole Picture

B is a bright, bubbly and bouncy bundle of wonderfulness, she is known wherever she goes as a happy and wonderful person. I remember when I used to work at a call centre in Bristol, that I was known to be quite a bubbly person, and then B started to work there, and people immediately were amazed by her always positive and happy disposition. She is a midwife, and I can only imagine (she's not been in mine, despite her request) that she must be the most amazing person to have in a delivery room - the exact cheerleader and helper that you would need to get you through one of the most difficult things you'll ever experience. B is willing to give everyone a chance, and willing to believe the very best in everyone - a real ray of light, and those are few and far between these days. She brightens everywhere she goes. She's a wonderful mother and wife, and is very dedicated in looking after them - I am especially amazed by her dedication in making sure that their diets are healthy, but tasty - you need to try her yummy chocolatey nutty fruity treats, even as a sweet tooth, they are delish to me! 

Number 6 - Me!

I'm just me... not going to go into my qualities ;)

Number 7 - H

H is highly creative, any sort of artistic thing that she puts her hand to, she excells at - a gifted artist, photographer, singer, sculpturer, writer etc - you think of it, she can do it. Her photographs are especially amazing, she has a talent with capturing moments that are real and natural. I have many pictures from my wedding that she took (in a non official capacity) that are real cherished photos and some of my absolute favourites. Like S, she has also become a teacher, she teaches early years in a primary school, and some of the pictures I've seen look incredible. She's certainly the kind of teacher I'd have loved and remembered from school. She is a very hands on mother, and is very creative in her approach to their play and learning time, she is heavily committed to "creative play", and has spent hours on imaginative and fun things for the kids to do - I'd never even heard of a sensory box until she made one for her eldest. H is determined and hard working - she's another sibling that, when she puts her mind to it, she can, and will, accomplish amazing things. She is kind, fun and loving, and like both my other sisters, a very dedicated and wonderful wife and mother. 

Number 8 - S

S is the youngest and craziest of us all. He has a fantastically contagious madness that makes him engaging and great fun to be with, he is universally liked by anyone who meets him, and can immediately make people feel at ease around him. He is the kind of person that people want to be with. S is also highly gifted in any and all sports, like H in her artistic abiliy, S is the kind of person that when he tries something new, he succeeds. The number of sports this boy has picked up and excelled at is ridiculous. This was shown from an early age, where on first time swimming he could barely finish a lap of the pool, but within a few months, he was competing and winning at local competitions, the same can be said of his golf and many more sporting events - basically, if he has a desire to do it... he will! S is another theatrical brother, he has been in a couple of films and recently finished a degree in performing arts. He got approached by the agent of Lucas Gabreel who was interested in him after a performance in Finding Their Feet. He's also business savvy, and is involved in a successful business (which he was doing whilst attaining his degree). Watch this space, there's plenty more coming from this boy!

So that's my family! and you know what... I love 'em! They're amazing. I love spending as much time with them as is humanly possible. I am also massively blessed to have wonderful brother's and sister in laws that have married in to our crazy family and 18.5 nieces and nephews - all in all, a big beautiful, crazy, wonderful family!

(believe it or not, this is minus 2.5 individuals)