Blessings of a big family.

When I was growing up in a big family I didn't realize what an amazing blessing being part of a big family would be until I had children of my own. Sure, I loved always having a playmate but I never knew what a blessing it would be to have sibling who would also have large families.

I am one of 6 children born to my parents Michael Sturgis & Sandra Kaye Weber Kestner. I have two older, protective, fabulous brothers who were so good to me. David is six years older than me and Todd is 4 years older. I was my parents first little girl and a welcome addition after years of trying for another baby. A little over two years later, my little brother Andy came into our family to be our little superhero. Two and a half years later, Holly entered the world to be the comedy relief and after miscarrying between the last two, my baby sister Susie, the caboose came into the picture.

As kids we played all over the five acres that our parents purchased in 1977. To this day we still have a blast playing tag, building forts, riding bikes, riding motorcycles, playing hide and go seek (sometimes in the dark) and building bon fires and bonding on those same 5 acres.

It is now as my kids are getting older and making friends that I realize the blessing of many siblings. My newest addition Robel is 9 years old and loves his cousins. Jayden is his best friend and a cousin as well.

When I was growing up I had one cousin that I knew (my cousin David) and I only saw him a few times in my youth. When I was 11 my aunt adopted an adorable little girl (my cousin Karen) and since we lived so very far apart and did not have money to travel I saw them rarely. I also had 3 biological cousins born to my mom's brother David (Kim, Missy & Tim) whom I did not meet until I was 26 years old. We now communicate a bit through Facebook but otherwise I do not know them.

On the contrary my children have 42 cousins that they get to see often and love as their friends!

David & his wife Marcy have 4 children

Todd & his wife Andrea have 6 children with one on the way in November.

Andy & his wife Bethany have 4 children

Holly & her husband Darin have 3 children

Susie & her husband Nathan have 3 children

Thats 20 cousins just on my side!!! And the 21st to arrive this fall.

Daniel's brother & sister-in-law Jim & Eileen have 3 children

Daniel's brother Bryan & his wife Sasha have 7 children

Daniel's brother Kevin & his wife Kelly have 7 children

Daniel's sister Rhonda has 2 children

Daniel's brother Jonathan and his wife Abi have 2 children

Thats 21 cousins on Daniel's side!!!

My kids have so many aunts and uncles that they hug and kiss almost any adult I speak to including Wal*Mart clerks. Yikes! I think they think everyone is a family member.

My kids will never be lonely for a friend they have each other and so many cousins to love and befriend. What a blessing a big family is. Daniel is one of 7 and so we both appreciate what a big family is. I am so happy to be apart of our families lives and to truly know each other.

Grove Family Reunion June 2008

Kestner Klan October of 2007
Photo courtesy of Aunt Heidi