The greatest gift outside of salvation and my amazing husband is this group right here - plus the newest member, Harper Mae.  People always ask Bill and I, "how do you keep your family so close".    There is an amazing unconditional love that has been shown and given to them.  No matter what the blessing or storm that life brings, we face it together as a team. 

If you were to pause for a moment and think about your circle of friends this year - compared to your circle 5 years ago you will more than likely think about how that circle has changed.  Relocating, life choices, growth, and maturity bring new seasons and with that a new circle of influence.  One of the things that we have taught our kids from a very young age is that your friends may come and go - but one thing that will be with you forever is the gift of family.  Your parents, brothers, sisters and children should be your greatest fan club.  For some, that is hard because you may come from an extremely dysfunctional family but if you allow God, He will surround you with right relationships that will bring healing and joy.  

One of the things that we practice as a family, is to be intentional with making time for each other.  Once a quarter we will take a weekend to get away together, those breaks don't have to be major, the getaway is the best part.  My heart was so full this week when my middle daughter Chelsie called and let me know that she had invited her brother and sister over for breakfast.  She felt like their lives have been busy and going in different directions lately and she wanted to make sure that even in the chaos life brings that  their relationship with each other has value and utmost importance,

I began to think, isn't this the way that our heavenly Father is?  He so desires to have a relationship with us.  Your thoughts, your goals, your desires - they all matter so much to him,  yet we get busy and often leave him out.  He longs to be that friend that sticks even closer than a brother.  My friend our challenge today is to spend more time with Him, make Him a priority in your life - I promise you will not be disappointed.

James 4:8 (NIV) - Come near to Him, and He will come near to you.