on joining a new family...

what is that saying...you don't just marry the person, you marry the whole family?  

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i met matt's parents the weekend we officially started dating. he had been interested in me for a couple months by this time, so all these thoughts of "what do they know about me?", "DO they know about me", "will they like me", "will they not like me", "do they think i've been stringing along their son for 2 months?" etc etc etc. were running through my mind.

we showed up to pick up his brothers and jordan to find them all in the kitchen picking at cinnabons and chatting...a scene not unlike something i'd find in my own home. {us baileys like food, and we like to talk} the semi nervousness subsided and i joined in the conversation. i don't remember what we talked about, or for how long, but it was easy and comfortable.

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i've had enough friends, roommates, siblings, and so forth get married over the years, that i knew liking my in-laws would be very important! 

families have such different dynamics and you're used to this way while the other person is used to their way and now which way do we do it? i wanted to marry someone who had the same closeness in their family that i have in mine. 

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and you guys, i hit the jackpot. 

matt's family has been nothing but kind and supportive and loving since they've know me. they don't hesitate a second to help each other out and i love that about them! they love spending time with one another and doing the hobbies they enjoy together.

this last saturday matt & i, his parents, and dave &jordan all went to do a temple session together. it was such a great moment to all be in the temple together and feel like i was with family. my new extended family that loves me like my own family does. my wonderful mother in law took a moment to tell jordan and i how much they love us and how happy they are to have two new daughters. 

i just have to say, i sure do love these people of mine! 

 {mom, dad, and brother in law}

{newest sister in law jordan}