Allow me to introduce my family

This is my Dad his: name is Henry:

I really really adore him. It's not that he's taught me a lot, or that we are really close; I just really appreciate him. My Dad and Sister were always really close growing up; I never thought he liked me that much. It was me and my Mom on a team and my Dad and Sister on another team; we would always take sides in arguments. But it's different now. My Dad has the sweetest intentions, he is a lawyer so he knows how to talk and handle people well. And he always seems to be right. He grew up as an army brat who traveled everywhere with his family- he moved almost every 6 months- except for 8 years when he lived in Germany. He is half German half Chinese- full angel. He is the most neat and meticulous man I have ever met. He likes looking put together and always asks me what I think of a shirt he buys, or if I like his outfit. I think it's really sweet. I've noticed that I'm really attracted to guys like my Dad: neat, meticulous, wise, and have a gentle spirit about them. My Dad is a very gentle man, I wonder if it is because his Father was full Chinese and they are brought up differently. My Dad has this great understanding of the world and what I call "patterns of life". My Dad and I kind of became closer in 2008 when I became a Christian- because he drove me everywhere. After 2701 mostly, we would have these great talks. He doesn't know God really, but whenever he speaks of him- it makes sense. I think I really trust the Lord's provision because my Dad is the ultimate provider, he does everything for me, and so I really expect that from the Lord. My Dad does everything I ask of him (that is not utterly ridiculous, not that I'd ask for anything he couldn't give me). And I see that connection with God, that I only ask for things that is biblical- things that he would like to provide- and that he does work in everything I request.


This is my Mom: Gerianne:
She has taught me a lot, really. Because she has shown me a lot of what I don't want to be, and what I do want to be. She may not be the most positive example of anything in my life, but I am so thankful for her. God gave her to me as a Mother with so much purpose. My Mom is hilarious, I can't help that I see so much of her in myself. She has this forever young and playful heart. Especially with my Dad, she is always joking, or making weird noises, singing, and just goofing off with him. And I am totally that kind of girlfriend- a weird one, a playful one. Something that I love that my Mom has illustrated for me is how important communication is in a marriage- my Mom does not hold back any thoughts from my Dad. she is downright honest. Anything she's carrying, worrying, or excited about she'll tell it to my Dad over and over again. Thats something I desire in relationships- my partner to be my best friend and for them to listen. I could rave for hours alone on my Mom's cooking. It's incredible- she lives to serve people in that way. She will spend relentless hours in a kitchen just to create something beautiful and tasty. when I was younger she would make me cupcakes or cakes every year to bring to class- always a different theme. One year, when I was really little my birthday was cinderella themed so she spent like 2 days making a cake with a bridge on top over looking water with prince charming and cinderella on it, and she made another cake that was just the glass slipper. Don't even get me started on my Sister's ariel themed party. My Mom LOVES glamour, and decoration. You should see our house every year for Christmas. She is very stubborn, passionate, and head strong. If she wants something- she doesn't stop until she gets it. She's been a respiratory therapist at Stanford hospital for 23 years or something, and she got bored and only works once a week to become a cosmetologist. And now she works in a salon doing hair, and absolutely loves it. she desired to recreate herself and she did it. I think that is a big part I have gained from her- I work to change things I don't like. And my Mom is extremely affectionate, and very sincere when she speaks- which I seem to carry those qualities too.

This is my older Sister: Gina:
Growing up my sister and I used to fight all the time. One time we went through this phase of wrestling, but she would always end up crying because I have always been bigger and stronger then she. I don't know if I could call us super close- she's older and I don't see her or really talk to her all that often. But when we get together it's the best. I really love my Sister. She is a cosmetologist too and lives for fashion and makeup. My Sister has undergone some crazy changes. She was always this shy red-headed girl with really long hair and a great smile then total prep- then she became emo- then scene- then whatever she is now. but she really came out of her shell, my sister is the life of the party. She has become such a social butterfly, and always sticks out among crowds. People notice her. She has these really strong values that she upholds and I always wonder what her source is. (No one in my family is Christian-especially Gina). She is such a confident beautiful young women, and I really love her. She's all about advice, always advising her friends- or me when I ask for it. She is a incredible listener. She just wants to have fun- and whoever is with her is with her and whoever isn't she doesn't care- she totally gets that from my Mom. My Sister is very anti-affectionate, just like my Dad, they both HATE being touched. And they both have the same teeth. My sister is very opinionated. She lives as if there is no tomorrow, she is always all there wherever she is.

and then there is me: Gabriella:
I am a people person, definetly a extrovert. I've always had this heart that has felt misplaced, that never felt like I belonged to anything here. I grew up feeling very different, very unusual, very meant for bigger things. I guess that was the holy spirit in me at a young age. and I'm continually realizing that I do belong somewhere, and I'm excited about it. I'm the kind of person who will have one general focus, and everything I do in my life will be shaped around that. Growing up my focus was that I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was older- so I would spend hours in my room putting together outfits, in middle school I even started sewing my own skirts. I wasn't very good, and they would all end up being really short, and the pleats would be all off- but i loved it anyways. then 8th grade until sophomore year of high school my passion was drama, and everything I did revolved around the drama program and class. I used to spend every Wedsnesday taking singing lessons, then I would come home and record myself doing monologues,dancing, and singing. Then sophomore year drama passion took a back seat and everything began to run around Christ- every action i took revolved around the fact that he is God. And I am positive that is the only label or description I would ever want upon myself- Christ follower. i'm very particular about somethings, like always having my hands clean. I always make sure that after I go to the bathroom i open the door then I wash my hands so I don't have to touch the knob afterwards- I always wonder if people notice or think thats weird. I'm one of those people who never says no, I want to do everything. I'm always over booked with appointments to meet, pray, and be with people. but I really love that. I guess it's because over summer I really acknowledged that time was not my own and that I needed to use it to serve- that I asked God that I could remember to put my desires down so that I may offer myself as a living sacrifice- and not let anything like time or money keep me from helping someone.


I used to always wonder why God gave me this family out of any other, we were never (and maybe never will be) one of those families that loves being together or that runs smoothly. I have always picked up that there isn't much love in my family at all. But it has really taught all the ways in which loves disguises itself to live in our world. I see love in my Mom by the way she will worry about me and my sister. I see love in my Dad by the way he advises and processes aloud with my family. I see love in my Sister in the way she doesn't pretend to be anything she's not. I see love in myself in the way I will just laugh and be with them. All I know is the Lord prepared my mother and Father their entire life to have me and my sister as their child, knowing that I'd become a Christian, and that my sister is...everything she is. God knew. I'm positive my walk with Jesus would not be as strong or as my own as it is- if it wasn't for the family I have. Sometimes I feel like I have no way to relate to them at all, and God always humbles and stretches me in my love and patience with them- and is teaching me more how important family is. My family is definetly a challenging one, but fruitful none of the less. I appreciate and love my family. (but I'm more than excited to start my own someday-completely different)