All my brothers and sisters and me.
This is the Van Horn clan. Growing up, we were the Herdman's of our Orem and Bellingham neighborhoods. A favorite collective memory: mom, at the end of her rope, throwing golf balls at the retreating backs of my brothers and their friends while yelling, "I have had it!" We are not perfect. Our kids are not perfect. But together, somehow, we are perfect. We have all been down the road to hell and back, and I can not think of a more reliable and non judgemental group to have in my corner. We will move heaven and earth to be there for each other, and have done so many times. We all have helped each other in our own little ways, whether it's financial, or moral and physical support. We have flown to Pete's bedside when he suffered electrical burns over a huge part of his body. We answered the call to go to Bellingham to help look for our missing niece and console our grieving sister. We have gathered together to say a final earthly goodbye to our brother, Mark, and sister, Julie. We will go and watch Pete perform his music in many different venues. We prayed for Jeff when he fell off the roof. We have prayed for Tommy and John and their families. They have prayed for me and my family. Whether it's weddings or funerals--and all of the joys and sorrows of this life--we are there for each other.
The Clan: Karen, Jackie, Mom, Dad, (back row) Tom, Jeff, Peter, Matthew and John. In memoriam: Mark and Julie...we miss you!
The Boys: Tom, John, Jeff, Peter and Matt. Whenever we get together you can bet that they will bring out the war stories of their childhood exploits. They still laugh raucously at their twistedness. Ah, the good ol' days...
The Girls: Jackie and Mom are the best of friends. They have to talk to each other by phone at least three times a day. That is a little much for me, personally, but I love these two women to the moon and beyond. They are two ot the most kind hearted, generous, compassionate and fun women I know.
The Mordue Girls (and honorary Boy): Markelle, Madi, Ashley, Covey and Kelsey. It is my hope and dream that these girls will be as good to one another, and there for each other, as my siblings have been for me.
And then there's Steve and I: we are hanging on by our fingernails and enjoying the ride. 25 years and counting, baby. As my dad just told me (like two minutes ago, when he asked about our anniversary), "You're half way there!" (which I promptly replied that I hope I get more than another 25 years with this guy!)