There's No Place Like Family

Well, it's the beginning of November and I'm already feeling the holiday spirit and something so much deeper at work in my life. I was going through all of my old photos in my computer and I noticed something I feel very troubling... I had pictures of birthday celebrations with friends, parties and events with friends old and new, vacations and day trips, nights out or nights in but all of them had only one thing in common... My family was missing.

Sure I have pictures of a few thanksgivings and of course some christmas... But shouldn't there be so much more than that?? Shouldn't there be too many pictures to count of my mom and me, my dad and I, my brothers and their kids, wives and everyone together on more than just the holidays?? After noticing this last night I couldn't help but cry.

We spend so much time focusing on having fun and going out and putting off the dull and dreary living of day to day life. But what about those who didn't get that? The people who died young and never got the opportunity to experience their family as much as I have had the opportunity. All three of my brothers are no more than a twenty minute drive away at most, so why is it that we still don't see each other as often as we should?? Busy schedules... I suppose, but if you want something bad enough, you make time.

I guess what I'm getting at is that with my growing older every year, I suppose I'm actually growing wiser as well. Call me old fashioned or call me mushy and lovey. Either way I don't mind, because in all honesty, only a handful of my friends will actually last through out my life time... But my family, they'll always be there. I am so incredibly blessed to have a family that doesn't fight at each meeting, quarrel over stupid things or let our differences get the best of us.

I love each member of my family as much as you could possibly imagine. Every one of them is different and their own person, which is amazing. It proves that it IS possible to have differences and disagree with your family and still love them just the same.

All I know right now, is that I'm going to make an effort to get pictures of my family as often as my camera allows. I'm going to take the time to enjoy my family whenever I can get the chance. And I'm going to try my damndest to make sure that we don't ONLY see each other during the holidays or special occasions.

Right now, my family is virtually all I have. And I'm one blessed woman to have them support me in every way I can possibly imagine.