Three Boys and A Girl: What is your FORTE?

A few nights ago I had an conversation with some of my brothers. The conversation wasn't NEW ... well the subject was but the outcome wasn't.

The conversation was based on the luncheon we would have for my parents before they left for their mission. To make a long story short ... we couldn't decide on the MENU. I wanted easy and my brother wanted nice and my other brothers told us to call them and let them know what we decided.

When we got in the car, the Lifeguard looked at me in disbelief and said,
"ARE YOU SERIOUS? Did a simple menu really require that long discussion?"

I laughed because I knew exactly what he was talking about! For he has seen this very scenario play out over and over and over in my family. We have six brothers and one sister (me) ... for a total seven people who think their way is the best way ... and that's without our spouses!

It isn't that we are not willing to bend, it's just that we want our experience and opinion to be heard!

A little over a year ago we were all "assistants" to my dad as he ran a campaign for public office. Can you imagine if we can't easily plan a simple menu together ... how "easy" it was to agree on campaign signs and where to put them?

Yeah, that's why some of my brothers picked up and left the other night. They had kids to get to bed and they knew this conversation we were having wouldn't end for a couple hours. They've been there before ... and they participate with their opinions most of the time. Luckily it was a school night!

But you know the wonderful thing about it all? We would step in front of a speeding train for each other any hour of any day and we all share the same ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE, which allows us to each take turns backing down when we realize we are voicing an opinion about something that is NOT our "forte".

I love that word "forte" ... it's fun to say and it also uplifts, for each one of us process it!

I can tell you right now that my forte is NOT food! It is a challenge for me and I don't enjoy spending time making it or planning it ... hence why I always default to "easy" when it is required.

That's okay though, because it is the forte of lots of people I spend time with and I'm really glad because as much as much as I don't like to MAKE food, I really like to EAT it.

I have a friend named Elise. I included this pic of us because it's so typical ... me worrying and her smiling. Isn't is awesome?!

She gets a kick out of one of my forte's. She has mentioned that it might be border-line obsessive. Hence, she sometimes messes with me for her own enjoyment and laughter.

One night we were setting up for a big event. She had some other people helping her put cloths on some big display tables. She decided she would INTENTIONALLY put the table cloth on crooked ... you know, just for FUN!

Then she said to the others around her,
"Watch! This table cloth is going to drive Krista crazy! As soon as she spots it she will run over to straighten it!"

The other ladies assured her this would not happen. They told her I would never notice a crooked table cloth among-st all the other decorations. Elise told them to "just watch" ... and then they sat back and watched the obsession unfold.

I surly did notice the table cloth ... in about 5 seconds flat, along with my other pals who share the same obsessive forte I do. As a trio we ran over to straighten the cloth.

Oh how Elise
and the people around her
laughed!

That is Elise's forte. She can make me laugh harder than anyone else I know! Her forte is a blessing to my life because it's something I don't naturally possess!

All forte's are needed for this world to run! Can you imagine if everyone had the same forte I do? Good heavens!!! We would all starve to death!!

Can you imagine if everyone had the same forte as Elise? Goodness gracious!! We would be peeing our pants and have aching guts from laughing so hard!!

(There may or may not be a story behind that but my lips are sealed!)

I am so blessed by the
FORTE
of those who surround me!

The forte of my mother-in-law ... if you want to feel good about yourself, go visit her. She has a way of making you feel like you are the most wonderful person on the face of the earth! And her music ... well, I can't even go there! It's such a gift to all of us!

The forte of my father-in-law ... patience ... patience ... patience ... I really can't type that enough to describe him! And some of you might not know this, but he's dang funny!!! This is him with his sister. Aren't they cute?!

The forte of my mother ... you ought to see inside of my mother's home! Well, you can't now because she has packed it up but oh my goodness, my mother can make any space completely beautiful and wonderful and magical! What a blessing that has been to me all my life! And her food ... awe her food!!! Well, I didn't inherit her cooking skills. Let's just leave it at that.

The forte of my dear old dad ... peace ... peace at any price! And ... wisdom ... and I could go on and on! I adore him!

The forte of my new daughter-in-law ... genuine sweetness! Really she is so sweet you could get a cavity by just sitting next to her! And grateful!! She is so very grateful for the smallest deed you do for her! And her hair feels so soft, like a little baby chick!

The forte of our oldest son ... he is a leader, a natural leader. He's unafraid (like a New Yorker) and he is smart! I won't lie, he's my son but I ask for his advice almost every day!

The forte of my baby boy ... he's like Elise and could make you smile even if you were in front of a firing squad! I always call him our little ray of sunshine! You're laughing just looking at him in that picture aren't you? See! I told you he was funny!

The forte of the Lifeguard ... he's a natural caregiver, through and through. I won't go on because I wouldn't be able to stop with him! But I will say it's interesting that I have this pic of him with these 2 cousins of his because they are a lot like him. I love all three of them!