I'm one who has always grown up with extended family around and I've never been one to think it's odd to have this close relationship with a cousin or another extended family member. But I've realized at this point that I'm lucky. I'm lucky to have such an amazing family, who love me ad will ALWAYS love me no matter how bad I screw up ad how awesome it is to have cousins who you are don't talk to once a year at a family reunion.

I'm also lucky I have a family that has a family reunion. I'm lucky my family can put aside differences and come together even just once a year. I'm lucky I have a family who is willing to travel far if they have to just for a weekend to visit family.

My family may not be the most normal, and they may be kind of crazy, but they are still MY family and I care about them as much as they care about me. And sometimes I forget there are all these people out there that are connected to me in some way and you know what? Those people that are your blood aren't your only family.

Trust me, I have a lot of different families. I have a church family, a dance studio family, a family of school friends, and my blood family. Now, this may seem like too many families, too may people to care about, but the amazing thing is that a lot of these people are in two or three of these groups. The people you grow up with, whether a blood family member or a member of another family, they begin to feel as if they are your blood family. And that's how I feel it should be.

So, I want to thank all those who are my family, who care about me ad put up with my craziness, Thank You and I Love You.

Love,
Natalie