Feb
04
You wanna meet som’more of tha Hunter clan? I can hook you up. ;)
Ended on Bryce, so we start with Sarah…
Sarah | Sister in Law | Bryce’s wife, the dancer. I think “Sister in Love” sounds a little better. Love/law, one in the same. Without a doubt in my mind, I promise you that you will see Sarah on broadway. I can confidently say that. And I can confidently say I knew her before you did. She braved New York City for 3 years ~ paving her own future and this leap of faith graduated her into an amazing performer. I’ll never forget the first day I met Sarah, she was in OAC (Grade 13) and I was a lowly freshman just starting high school. She and Bryce had just started dating… I saw this sweet girl bound up to me with the biggest smile saying, “You’re Richelle! I’m Sarah! I’m dating your brother!” LOL She’s the girl that went on to surprise me with cupcakes in my locker on my birthday, to raiding my closet when she needs to, to asking me to emcee her amazing wedding to my big brother, to being one of my best…to now being one of my bridesmaids. The night I asked her to stand up with me, will be one that I cherish forever; I knew I meant just as much to her as she does to me in that moment. Since cupcakes, she’s been my sister.
Craig. | Brother | Albeit, Craig suggested “Craig | The Asshole.” Lollllll. Oh brother, where do I start (pun intended.). Should I mention his years as a professional paintball player, or when he remodeled a truck with his own hands, or when decided he would write his LSATs – “just for fun”, or when he organized an entire TEDx talk event, or when he somehow got Rick Mercer to attend a voting mob he planned, or how he ran full speed ahead at one of his dream job at a startup company… and landed it. Tip of the iceberg my friends, tip of the iceberg. Craig inspires me to no end. He has taken the many joys in his life and cultivated them to be more than mere hobbies; he’s made them all count and in the process, all these amazing ventures have all developed him into a commodity. There was one night Craig called me, from the movie theatre when his movie was about to start – he said, “Richelle, there are two influential guys from a company I love…who just told me they want to meet me in Toronto tonight.” I said, “Would you regret it if you didn’t?” He got up, left the movie, and drove for 2.5 hours to simply have a drink with two people he’d never met. He got offered a job and two weeks later moved across the country. He’s that kind of person. He is one of my very best friends in the whole world and I cherish his heart and his passion for new adventures so very much. He is the guy I grew up fighting with at the dinner table everyday – so much so that we would be the last two stuck at the table, being told to finish our meal. Our “punishment” would end up being a giggle fit of who could make who laugh the loudest. Now we be best friendz.
This is a sweet less-than-fortunate girl we adopted. We don’t talk about her much.
Jerrica | Sister | My very, very best friend in the whole gosh darn universe. To make it simple, no one competes with Jerrica’s heart. I’ve been very lucky, having it known it from the very beginning. Jerrica is in school, diving into Social Justice & Peace Studies… if you’ve never seen someone’s heart extend across the whole world…you’ll have to meet her. She spent a month in Armenia, Colombia this summer, making the first steps toward a potential future of travel and passion for people. Now, aside from this lovable nature about her,… she is a real problem to have around because… she bakes. A lot. And it’s really good unbelievable. It’s just one of those things that makes her tick. Jerrica is an unbelievable friend to me…she makes me tick. Through the thick and the thin, she’s seen it all – although, come to think of it, she is seemingly stuck with me with the whole “sister” thing, so she doesn’t get much of a choice. Anyone that can handle being my other half for almost 22 years deserves a medal. I also admire her for not hating me. You see, as I child I would dress her up, give her a script and make her perform in front of my family while I filmed…and now, I’ve graduated her; now I dress her up and take pictures of her for a living. Old habits die hard.
Grayson | Nephew | Type A – toy train connoisseur – rarely seen making a mess – shudders when his baby brother has food all over his mouth. Lol, the most hilarious kid. At almost 4 years old, Gray is a little old man. I literally asked him one day if he knew where he put his car toys…he pats himself down, checking his pockets and his back pockets…and says “I…I know I put them here somewhere.” Old man. He is the kindest little dude who will tell you you look beautiful even if you just got out of the shower. I love him with all my heart and a little more.
Lochlan. | Nephew | This little bundle of sweetness in human form, we like to call Lochlan. This boy would spend all day smiling and giving kisses if he could. Lochlan is 2…but tries to do everything you can imagine his almost-4-year-old big brother can do. So as you can imagine, this means everything… it even includes all bumps and bruises Grayson gets…so Lochlan’s phantom pain requires the equal number of kisses from his mom. :) Lochlan’s sweet little voice will pretty much make you do anything he asks if he simply ends the sentence with an “I love you.” I am wholeheartedly, a puppet to a 2 year old.
Mom | Boss, Head Honcho | {I’m already crying as I anticipate writing this.} She paved the future I am living now before I was born. She has put my and my siblings needs and dreams at such a high priority in her life and has always made choices based on her children. My mother is incredible. I mean, everyone’s mother is incredible…but I can’t help but to believe I won the lottery of awesome when God put the two of us together. She raised me in a Christian home, where I was taught that love should be at the root of everything and the importance of making making good decisions created a noble character. Through every phase of life, I have felt like she’s been a mom-friend, not just a mom. Instead of being secretive, or going through problems alone in those crazy adolescent years, she somehow spoke Teenager and I was able to talk through it all with her. How on EARTH she had 6 kids and knew our NAMES blows my MIND… let alone her capability to have created amazing relationships with each of us, individually, even now. She is a woman of grace and I can’t think of a better person to someday model motherhood after.
Dad | The Anchor, The Designer | He gives five-minute-long-hugs and puts his family first. As a landscape designer, I’ve seen him create over and over again…I feel super lucky to be privy to the gorgeous plans and drawings he pencils out. I remember the day he taught me to sketch like him; we were sitting at the kitchen table and I was working on the first draft of an art project. He told me that instead of making quick, hard lines on the page,… to make small, soft lines to create a more fluid movement to the picture. He said that even if it takes a little longer, the end product will be more beautiful because you’ve created a good foundation. It’s shocking how much that speaks to his own character. His soft disposition and support has taught me patience in the wild and amazing ambition I get from my Mom. :) And that by having a good foundation in him, my mom, and God,… my dreams will be beautiful and worth the work.
Fact: Dad can fix anything. Anything. I’m not joking…not talking in superlatives. Anything. On the planet. If you just thought of something, he can fix it. Swear.
And guess what?
2 more babies will be here by June. :) If I even try to write about this, I’ll sob. And sob. Because I’m so happy.
I love my family. they are my heart. You will continue to get to know them. Promise.
Can you tell I’m a little proud?
xo R
