With An Hour Left Of Day 5

At my older brother's wedding.

 I'm thankful for my family, in all their glorious chaos. I'm a very lucky man to have been blessed with the family that I have, both by blood and by marriage. I'm the youngest of three, the baby if you will, I have an elder sister and a brother in the middle. I've been fortunate to have siblings I have always been able to look up to, they've always tried to do what's right and in so doing have forged a path for me to follow. I think I'd be hard pressed to think of much I have learned that isn't at least in part to my sister, she has always been a teacher in my life. My brother has always been an example for me, when I was young and he was in high school he was the epitome of "cool", as he left on his mission I learned about duty, and in his life since I've learned about the intellectual and internal strength that signifies true manhood. I've also been blessed with a new brother and sister (in-law) through my siblings marriages. My brother-in-law has shown me how important family is, and that your wife can keep being your princess even after years of marriage. Where as my sister-in-law has taught me that being happy and positive is truly your own choice and nothing can take that from you.

I have also been blessed with amazing parents, I often feel like they were infinitely patient with me during my teenage years. My mother is a saint, she has worked hard and always put us kids first. It's really hard for me sometimes to look back on how much I took for granted, all the little things that she did for us. She is selfless and supportive of all that I choose to do. My dad taught me how to work, it seemed like there was always something that needed to be done around the house. Heaven knows I tried to get out of it as often as I could, but now that I'm older I realize he also taught me that when there is a job to be done you have to do it. He has also taught me that you can always learn a new skill, he instilled a thirst for knowledge and taught me how to teach myself.

Turns out I don't have pictures of either of my families unless we're at a wedding.

On August 19th 2011 I gained a whole new family. Two baby brothers and a mom and dad. When it comes to in-laws I couldn't have found any better, my father-in-law has helped me to learn how to plan. Hunting's have never been accused of being planners, schemers perhaps, but never planners. He has really helped me try to plan for the future instead of live in the present. My mother-in-law never ceases to amaze me, she is so calm when under duress. She has a lot of responsibilities to juggle, including my two little brothers, and she makes it look easy. If I'm lucky someday I'll be able to hold it together like that.

Then there are my little brothers. They make me remember that sometimes I need to step back and not take life so seriously. I remember that sometimes it's ok to just play a video game or just sit down and joke. They also help me want to be better in all that I do, because I want them to be the best that they can be.