Family....

No one can stress the importance of family to me. To me, family is everything. Whether you believe it or not, when it comes right down to it, your family will always be there for you no matter what. Even if you have had a lot of differences between you, when it counts the most, your family is there for you, loving you unconditionally with no questions asked. Throughout my life, I have seen and experienced a lot of people that have been estranged from their parents, or siblings and yes, even their own children. For the life of me, I cannot understand how someone can go through their day...month...year without their family in their life. Who knows you better than your own family? Has been with you through thick and thin, and have seen you suffer the worst times of your life? These are also the people that have never left you, even though you may have left them, maybe even for just a moment. I thank God every day for the family that I have been blessed with, and for the awesome children who I am very proud to call my own. They make me proud to say, "these are my kids". They possess the same sense of family values that I have. I am very close to my kids and I miss them so much. When I am with them, we laugh (a lot), share our thoughts and dreams and support each other through everything. We always end each visit with tight hugs and "i love you"s. and yes, I have to admit, there are sometimes tears. I truely would be lost without them and I can't imagine them not being a part of my life. No matter what the reason is, why people are distant from their kids, would you really want to miss out on this kind of love in your life? Not me, not a chance. 

Having a great family, I somehow always want to "fix" other people's families so that they have a family as awesome as mine. I know that sounds kind of stupid but sometimes I just want to give their heads a shake and tell them what they are missing out on, all the experiences that go on in every day life, Life is too short to dwell on family issues that have gone on for years and grudges that are held for something that you can't even remember. I bet it all sounds pretty petty now doesn't it? All the time being wasted being angry at someone when you could have been sharing life's best moments. If only you had learned to forgive and forget, to move on and keep the family bond intact. You have to learn to let go of stuff and look at the good things that you have in that family. Think of all the good times that were had, not focus on the one thing that has split you apart. Because in the end, it will be your family that will be by your side, the ones you can count on and the ones that will always love you no matter what. Don't forget too, how much you will regret it, if you don't make things right. One of these days, they may not be there when you are ready to forgive, or when you finally decide to make time for them in your busy life. Life really is too short, make the most of it, and don't forget about your family. My best memories are always of my family..make them yours too :)

I would also like to point out that I am not just talking about my family, but also Darren's family that treat me like their own daughter. I feel like I belong to this family, that I matter to them and if I was no longer here, they would feel a sense of loss. They have taken me in the family and treated me the same as their own kids. They love and respect me, as I do them. I am there for them as I know they are there for me. It feels great being a part of another awesome family. It's like striking gold twice. I truely am lucky.

So, as I have been thinking a lot about my family, I have decided it's time to start a family tree. I would like to know my family roots, beyond my imediate family members. I think it would give me a better sense of who I am, where I come from and maybe it will even tell me why I am such a knucklehead, a goof and overall awesome person! lol I can't take all the credit :)

I'm Not Stupid...

Ok, I have a pet peeve that I'm sure you have experienced too. Do you ever get people treat you like you are stupid? I absolutely hate it when people think they have to tell me how to do things because they think I didn't get it the first 10 times they told me. They give you no credit for having a brain in your head. I am rather insulted by this to be honest. I consider myself a fairly smart person even though I will admit to being a little absent minded at times. That just comes with age and having too much on your mind at one time. But worse than people telling you how to do something for the umteenth time, is people trying to tell you something that you know is a down right lie. They try to make you believe something that isn't true and they think you are stupid enough to believe them. They think that maybe you will never find out the truth because you just aren't smart enough to figure it out. And if they think they have gotten away with it, it will happen over and over and over. Maybe they should stop to consider that the lie just isn't worth arguing about, that just maybe we have something better to do with our time than to fight a losing battle by calling their bluff because even if we call them on their lie, they will argue with you til they are blue in the face insisting they are right. Personally, I just can't be bothered most times to argue. But eventually we all have our breaking point. And if you think we have forgotten all the pretty little lies that we have been told, think again...they are in our memory banks for future reference. And when you least expect it, these little lies will come back to haunt you. They will be backed up with resentment, anger and frustration. All of you know what I'm talking about, and yes, we are all guilty of doing it at some point in our lives. Unfortunately, some people live their life that way, lie after lie. I can't live like that, I try to be honest and up front with people and I just wish they would give me the same respect...what goes around comes around. Next time you feel like lying to someone, realize that they aren't as stupid as you think, that they will find out the truth, and it will be you that will be tagged "the stupid one" ....something to think about isn't it?