THAT is family

We are moving in just 9 days. SO much to do before then! My home is only about half-way packed. Luckily my husband will be home working this weekend and promised to get lots packed while I travel to see family 2 states away. My sister is having a house-warming party in her new home and my cousin's wife is having a baby shower. I also have birthdays to celebrate with my dad, my nephew, and my brother-in-law. Lot's going on!

This is my immediate family... yes, all of it.

Well, in the midst of all this craziness, I got a text message from my husband while at work yesterday and he said "nobody is coming anymore to help us move". Several of my husband's good friends had volunteered to come visit for the weekend to help us move. We are only moving 1/4 mile away, but we still need the help with moving some of the bigger items. My husband started getting a little frantic, wondering who we can get to help us out on such short notice. A lot of the people we know here are already occupied that day.

Me and my brother bonding over ugly sweaters

This is where I thank God for my family. I heard someone once say "friends are the family we would choose". I don't agree with that AT ALL. Family is a beautiful and wonderous thing. I never fretted yesterday, because I knew that all I had to do was send out a mass text message asking everyone in my family for help. Before I knew it, I had phone calls coming in, confirming texts, etc. My sister's family already had plans for the weekend, but it seems everyone else is planning to drive nearly 7 hours to spend the weekend with us and help us move.

Sisters:)

THAT is what family is. Friends are great, but the obligation is not there the same way it is with family. Everyone is my family is different, and we don't always get along. In fact, I doubt I would choose many of my family members as friends if we were not related. Still, we love spending time together, call each other often, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that if I need something, all I have to do is ask and they will be there. They know the same thing about me. We also know that when something horrible happens, we have each other to lean on. Besides my husband, my family members are who I talk to about life's trials and triumphs, and they celebrate and mourn with me through everything.

It is sad that many people do not have this kind of experience with family. One of my sibling's spouses once told me how overwhelming it was for her to realize she truly had an entire group of people who would be there at her side if she needed anything, as her own family was not that way. She had never imagined such support.

Me, my siblings and my beautiful mom

I thank my mom for this wonderful trait in my family, although many others helped with it as well. My mom showed us through her own actions that she would be there no matter what for us, and showed us how to do that for each other, and yes, even for her. Having that support network for life is amazing, and I am eternally grateful every day that God gave me the family that he did.

I told my husband that my goal is to give our future children what I have: a family of love and support, showing my children how to love and support one another through good and bad. THAT is family.