The Importance of OUR Family

It was a long 12 days. There was certainly much fun. Certainly much activity. Certainly much drama. Certainly some memorable moments. But it wasn't the kind of relaxing vacation we as a family are used to taking. I had a great time though and look forward to the next one as always.

I did get to spend a considerable amount of time reflecting on a few things. Most of them are centered around the kind of family we have built over the years. Not the extended family, but our family of four. It's funny but I think I posted a very similar entry following our summer vacation to Hilton Head last year. I could be wrong.

So why I have I decdided to be so proud of my family? Why is it so important to post about how important we are to each other? I think the answer is in the future of all of us. What will we be like when we are "older" and more seperated? What will happen when "new" family members expand upon the small group we have now?

I saw this past week how some distance can cause some grief in a family. How not being together all the time or in constant communication with each other can suddenly make things that seem so normal and routine appear weird. I understand why you have such a strong desire to have the girls close. I understand why it is so important to make certain that they always feel comfortable reaching out to us for anything. I saw why a simple thing like daily phone calls and a routine "good night" call are so valuable to the family as a whole. Once some distance gets between you and your family other things start to take the place of the family. We can't let that happen. You have done such a strong job of not letting that happen. You keep our family close. You keep it in tact. While I know that will get harder and harder over the years, we all count on you to maintain what we have built.

Then I saw how adding a "new" family member completely changes the dynamics of a family. Suddenly this new member has input, contribution and impact on something that had remained so stable over a long period of time. Handling that appears to be very difficult. The balance of pleasing the existing family member who brough the new member and helping the new "very different" memeber adapt is tricky to say the least. I am pretty certain that a rigorous screening process should be undertaken before such endeavors are made official. How we are going to handle that remains to be seen and is hopefully many years in the future.

So what does all this mean and why did I think it was so important? I was proud of the family we have made. We are a strong unit. We bounce back well and always remember that we are together no matter what happens. We managed to make the best of strange situations. We managed to lead the fun whenever possible. More importantly we all looked out for one another when things were sketchy. I couldn't have been more proud.

I know that we do so becuase that is the kind of family you have always wanted. The kind fo family you designed. The kind of family you know that we all need to maximize our lives. I can't help but wonder where all of us would be if you hadn't taken such meticulous care to build this family the way you have. We likely take for granted how strong it is and how much it helps all of us. It is your greatest accomplishment in life.

So when we embarked on the 3 day trek home we did so together. More together than when we left and more together than the rest of the family we left behind. We had a great time on our "mini" post vacation (the 3 day drive) and we solidified our family of four yet again.

My love I can't thank you enough for our family. While it was my idea for you "to get off your ass and have a baby" it has been all you ever since. We reflect exactly what you wanted us to become as a family. You have done such a terrific job molding us into what we have become.

I love you so much for all of our family. I love you so much for being there for all of us. I love you so much for being the leader of our amazing family. Frankly honey I just love you so much. The rest of our family may be able to tout their educations, careers, money, successes or whatever, but you have built something so much more important. So much more rewarding and so much longer lasting. You have done it with style, flare and a huge smile. You are incredibly humble about it even where you should brag. You have done this one thing almost perfectly.

You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.