This weekend was filled with cookouts, birthday parties and 4th of July celebrations for us. I did lots of cooking for three parties at three different houses. Friday we celebrated my oldest daughter's 22nd birthday with cake and ice cream at my grandmother's house. On Saturday we had a family cook out with my mom's side of the family at my sister's house. On Sunday, we celebrated 4th of July and our friend's daughter's 7th birthday with a pool party at their house. We were out until almost 10 pm every night with the kids AND the parents falling into bed as soon as we got home. The next day we spent a few hours relaxing in front of the tv before doing it all over again. By the time Monday came, we were excited to have the day off to recuperate. While all the parties were at different houses, at different times, and with different people, one thing they all had in common, we considered ALL of them our family.
Anyone that has been a part of our family for a while usually ends up with the title Aunt or Uncle. My biological cousin that visits us twice a year from Florida is known to the kids as Uncle Reese. My cousin who is 13 years younger than me that I used to babysit as a child, Auntie Danielle. Our family friends that grew up with my husband, Auntie Tab and Uncle Jake. People in our lives whether they have biological, marital or absolutely no relation to us, are still considered family. It is something we have always done and the way we raise our children to love and accept everyone as family.
"Family isn't always blood. It's the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you know matter what". ~ Unknown
I am very blessed to live near my parents, my sister, and a few aunts, uncles and cousins. I am also very blessed to still have two of my grandparents still alive. My husband, being from Ohio originally, doesn't have too many family members living near us but we are blessed to have his mother and step-father living with us. On top of that, we are blessed to have close friends who we consider family. But family doesn't need to be through blood, marriage or even long time friendships. Family comes from the heart. Family are the people who will be there to celebrate your greatest moments and who stick by your side when the world seems to be crashing down on you. Your family can be exactly the same as you or totally wild and different from you. You can share the same beliefs or be complete opposites. In this day and age, we get to choose who we want as our family. And as harsh as it sounds, as much as we can choose non-blood relatives as family members, we can also choose to NOT be family with blood relatives.
One of the biggest life lessons I have learned is to let go of toxic relationships, regardless of their relation to me. Now I am free to fill my weekends with people and places that bring me and my family joy. My family consists of people we have known for years and some I have known only a short while. My family are people we have blood ties with, people we have met through marriage and even those who we love despite divorce. No matter who you choose to have as your family, there is no greater gift to yourself than spending your time with those who you love and that was exactly what we did this past weekend.
"Family is the support you will never have to pay for because come rain, or shine, they will be there to cheer you on with every of your life goals". Unknown
Love and Noodles,
Carrie
Pleasure to Meet You!!
Hi, I'm Carrie. I have been with my husband Matt for over 10 years and we have 5 children and a fur baby. I'm originally from Chicopee and although I have moved around a few times in my life, we have been living in our home in Aldenville for 9 years now. My family and I love our neighborhood and enjoy connecting with others. When I am not homeschooling our 4 youngest children, I enjoy hiking, exercising, reading and traveling.
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