02.09.04

"Everyone can see we're together as we walk on by, and we flock just like birds of a feather, I won't tell no lie.." --Sister Sledge

I have a really cool family. I spent a good chunk of time with the Beckerle side this weekend because my cousin got married on Saturday, and I had such a great time.

There's something special about people who are related to you by blood- maybe it's because you see yourself in them. I feel so very blessed to not only love my family, but to like them, too. We may not see each other all the time, or we may see each other every day, but time and distance don't seem to matter when we're together.

It's interesting to become one of the "grown-ups" and have a new batch of kids running around. Most of my cousins are married, having babies, all that good stuff. I'm actually one of the few, the proud, the unattached and unencumbered. Mostly, I'm ok with that. Sometimes I am a little impatient for my turn.

Now that I am back in St. Louis where most of both sides of my family are located (with a few exceptions) I am so happy to be able to participate in all of the family functions that I have had to miss over the past several years. Something as simple as running over to my grandparents' house for an hour is more special to me somehow.

I am so thankful for my big, wonderful, loving, sometimes a little loud and crazy family. They are why I am the person I am today. And they tell me that I'm pretty great. I think they are, too. :)

Call your mom, kiss your kid, hug your uncle. Be grateful for the people you call family.