The Gowens Family

^^^These are some of the best people you could know. I'm not biased or anything!^^^

My Dad has this special way about him. I can literally be having a meltdown and all he really has to tell me is that, "Everything is going to be okay!" And I'm good! This sort of "fix-it" ability started when I was really young. I remember being terrified to catch a softball as a kid. I would always back up to avoid to catching it when it was coming in hot. I'd let the ball hit the ground and sort of roll it's way over to me. Not quite as effective as catching it in the air! So my dad spent hours with me standing against a brick wall (can't back up with a wall behind you) until I was finally able to (wo)man up and catch the dang thing in the air! I think he got a lot of laughs out of that day! He's the best.

My Mom is a friend to everyone. And when I say everyone, I quite literally mean anyone and everyone she meets. If you're bagging groceries at the grocery and she knows your mom's second cousin...she is going to stop by and tell you she does. And when she leaves you she will know your height and what you plan to study in school. I used think it was crazy how many people she knew and talked to, but as I've gotten older it has become one of the most endearing things about her! My mom knows how to make people feel special and important. She genuinely cares about everyone! I hope I have inherited this trait from her. She is also my closest confidant. This woman is my best friend!

Tara is my other half. We're opposites in a lot of ways, but we are one of those perfect combos. Peanut butter and jelly if you will :) She's actually my cousin, but has always been a sister. Since we were seven years old (she's only three months older than me) we were constantly with each other. We literally shared a bed until we were 16 years old. Tara lives in California with her sweet husband, Riley. He recently started his own business and is constantly doing something to improve it! He's a hard worker. Tara is a seamstress and makes dolls upon dolls every day. The girl is crafty to say the least! It's hard to narrow down a memory with Tara because there are so many. My favorite would be a grouping of all our late night chats. There is something about the soul-healing conversations sisters can have. I wished they lived closer so we could have more! 

Megan is the tender-hearted sister. She is currently serving a mission for the LDS church in Santa Rosa, California! And, actually, her 1 year mark is tomorrow!!!! I don't think I could put into words how proud and impressed I am with this sister of mine. I can't wait to give her a squeeze in a few months. Megan and I also have too many memories to count with each other. One that has really stuck out to me while she has been gone is how she would come into my room when I would go on super long reading binges. I'd be hunkered down in my bed with maybe 50 pages left in a book that had me hooked and in would walk Meg. She'd have this little grin on her face and I knew what was coming..."Let's bond!!" That was her way of saying, "Put down your book. I want your attention!" And after putting up a bit of a fight, I would always close the book and chat about whatever was on her mind. And it was always more fun than whatever I was reading!

Hunter is the one who keeps us all in stitches. Almost anytime I am around her I end up with tears running down my face because of something she's said. This last year has been really neat because I've gotten to spend so much one-on-one time with her. You heard it here first people, there are big things ahead of that one. I can never keep straight what she wants to do (I think it is currently dental hygiene) but whatever she does she will be great at it! One of my favorite memories with Hunter is probably one of her least favorite. I was headed to her room one night and about halfway down the hall could hear her singing by herself. I stopped dead in my tracks and went back into my room. I went into our bathroom (Jack and Jill style) and crept over to her door and opened it quickly and screamed. My plan had the desired affect! I completely scared the crap out of her. What was meant to be funny, quickly wasn't when I realized how upset it made her. I ended up scratching her back until she fell asleep. And I think there may have been some laughter tears mixed in as well!

 I couldn't ask for a more wonderful family!

The last introduction will be up tomorrow....yes, Hintze family, I'm talking about you :)