Basket of Blessings

When I married into Doug's family, almost 25 years ago, I lucked out.

We all get along together, including the brothers and sisters-in-law,

and we have a lot of fun together.

Maggie and Rob were in Utah from Alaska a few weeks ago because their son, Kyle, was going into the MTC for his mission to Russia.

Any time the Olsens are in town we gather.

Well, we gather even when the Olsens aren't in town, just because we like to do that.

I took this picture of Doug and his brothers and sisters in Janet's back yard.

They were hamming it up a lot and I took a lot of pictures

but this is the only one with everyone looking decent enough.

I've known these people for a lot of years.

We were all young parents together

having our babies and learning how to do life.

We've been with each other through the good times

and the hard times in our lives.

We've laughed together and cried together.

We've camped and hiked and traveled and shopped together.

We've had countless family gatherings.

It is really something to think about,

the lives that become interwoven with your own,

just because you marry someone.

Doug's family is one of my blessings.