Family Ties that Bind

So tonight I am in a thoughtful/thankful mood. It is my grandpa Marv's 84th birthday (well at least it will be for 22 more minutes) and we went to the temple tonight to take out his endowment. (For my non-Mormon friends, its a significant ritual we do in the Mormon religion in our temples. I'm not going to get into the whole details of it all but just know it is a big deal in Mormonism for everyone to do this ritual). He died last January, and being that he had never done it while he was alive, tonight, on his birthday, we were able to do this ritual for him. It was a wonderful way to celebrate his birthday and his life.

Being there with some significant family members that I love dearly got me thinking about our family ties. Here we are sent to earth and land in a family. This family greatly effects who we become. For better or for worse, we are who raises us. (Can you hear the generations of sociologist coming out? Another point for nurture.). Of course we come with our own personalities traits but I feel that nurture dominates nature - most of the time.

We are our family.

So tonight, contemplating my family ties, I was very grateful for the nurturing that has gone on in my life. I have a damn great family, immediate and extended. No questions about it.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Marv.

This is one of my favorite picture from my grandpa's funeral. I am above average SPOILED with wonderful men in my life and these are some of the top 6 ones right here.

The sealing of my grandma and grandpa and then the sealing of my mom, aunt annie and uncle mark to Betty and Marv happens when my parents come down in August!