21 - FAMILY

Write About a Family Member You are Grateful For...

1.  Mom, Dad, and Rachael...  I'm deeply grateful for my family of origin - thankful that Mom and Dad are in their 43rd year of marriage and that I grew up in a loving Christian home!  I'm thankful for Dad's provision, generosity, and the way God has blessed his SF business.  I'm grateful for Mom's support, creativity, and her sincere interest in my thoughts and stories as a child.  I'm thankful to have a younger sister, thankful for Rachael's sense of humor and creative talent (and the furniture she and Kyndal painted for me)!  I'm super thankful for all God has taught me through these relationships and how each one of them connect me to beloved extended family members... the niece and nephews, Babah and Grandad and JoBug and her family and the DeBusks, etc., and Dad's side of the family, which is far too large to start naming them all! =)

"Luh-Luh-Lindsey, Luh-Luh-Left... Ruh-Ruh-Rachael, Ruh-Ruh-Right!" lol

2.  The Whitaker Fam...  The ones from Dad's side of the family that I'm closest to is definitely Kristin and Frankie + Anthony, Diesel, Nash, and Wesson... (and also my Aunt Charlene, since she's my favorite Aunt and she's in the top left pic! lol)  I'm grateful to live near the Whitakers, especially thankful for the close friendship with Kristin, grateful for Frankie's kindness and his ability/willingness to help me out with projects that need a strong man, thankful to have known baby Anthony (now in Heaven with Jesus), and thankful to be "Aunt Lindsey" to his younger brothers, who are so playful and fun and full of life!!

3.  Chet Lee, Karli Marie, and Sarah Elizabeth...  My "framily" crossover and closest Tulsa friends are the Wilsons and Sarah Elizabeth, nearly 15-year friendships that feel more like a chosen family to me now.  We know lots of details about each other's daily lives and families, plan fun trips with each other, celebrate most holidays and birthdays together, support each other in our big dreams and painful losses, and genuinely enjoy each other's company the great majority of the time!  They're the main reason I hope/plan to move back to Tulsa someday down the road, Lord willing.  We help each other to feel more loved, seen, safe, and hopeful... and I am VERY grateful for these three and the relational richness they add to my life!! 

4.  Triston Michael... My oldest nephew is now 16, driving Ginny the Genesis, working at CFA, and acing his sophomore year at CHA!  T-man is intellectual, thoughtful, witty, ambitious, and really enjoying having more independence now that he's a licensed driver!  He has a lot of inner strength and maturity, and some early practice with setting boundaries and determining what is and is not his responsibility.  I so admire his resilience and wisdom, and I pray that he feels loved, safe, and hopeful!  I have every confidence that he will be successful in business... I'm praying also that God blesses his future with inner peace and healing + purposeful work he enjoys + quality relationships with people where there is mutual love and respect!  I'm very grateful to be his aunt, and thankful for the relationship we have built!!

5.  Carter Lee... My second nephew, Carterman, has been living with the Deppen family via guardianship for the past couple years.  Although I don't get to see him as often as the others, I am really grateful for the times we do get to spend with him!  He is athletic and fun-loving, enjoying football and wrestling and chute-dogging in junior rodeos!  I'm thankful that he is thriving and developing new interests and hobbies, that he seems to be enjoying his teen years surrounded by supportive friends and family.  Praying he continues to heal and become who God created him to be, feeling safe and loved and hopeful!  I'm grateful to be his aunt and excited to see who he becomes as life moves forward! 

6.  Jace Michael... I'm grateful for my youngest nephew, the Jaceman.  His outgoing personality and fun-loving spirit are entertaining, and his joy and excitement are often contagious!  He is bold and strong... his defenses are "so up" sometimes, but when his guard is down and he feels safe and loved and seen, he is very warm, loving, and considerate.  So again, praying for healing and peace, for good male role models, and that he feels loved, safe, and hopeful about his future!  I'm thankful to be his aunt and to get to cheer him on as he grows up!!  

7.  Kyndal Faith... Last but certainly not least, my one and only niece, the mini Miss K!  She is effervescent, athletic, intelligent, sensitive, and empathetic.  Along with her brothers, she's endured a lot at a young age, but they're survivors, and their inner resilience shines through.  I'm grateful Kyndal has great friends, that she clearly cares about relationships, and that she enjoys (and excels in) her sports and her schoolwork.  K-Faith is feisty and independent, full of ideas and not afraid to speak her mind or ask for what she wants - I freaking adore that boldness in her, and I'm praying it stays with her throughout life!  Very grateful to be her aunt, and praying her heart stays soft and strong, and that she continues to feel loved and safe and hopeful!!

❤