"We Are Family"

            We all know how much I love Christmas, and the only thing I might, sometimes, maybe love a little bit more than Christmas is family. I love my family more than I can even write, but I will give it a go this week.

            The best thing about families is that they do not have to be perfect—and none are. Every family has their quirks and craziness, because every family has different people! Just like no two people are the same, neither are the families they make up. To me, that is a very beautiful thing.

            As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I've been spending time with my family this month and it has been nothing short of absolutely, perfectly lovely and wonderful. Because they are all so amazing, this may sound like I am bragging, but I’d like to introduce you to the family I've been spending time with.

 
 First stop: California. If you've been lucky enough to meet my older sister, Lindsay, then there’s a very good chance you love her—I've yet to meet a single person who doesn't, and I truly believe it is simply impossible. My brother-in-law is famous for his laugh and sense of humor, and my only niece is famous for her beautiful, big, baby blue eyes. My youngest nephew is only about four months old, but when he smiles at you, the world pauses for the duration.

I've got my grandma, who may sound a lot like your own grandma as she bakes batches upon batches of brownies for her grandchildren whenever we visit, and never forgets a birthday. My grandpa (aka “Will Smith”) is the sweetest, most generous man I know—and if you stand in one place for more than a minute or so, he’ll come up beside you just to scratch your back. I’ve got my uncles who love hunting, building, history, and nature. Each one of my aunts is Super Woman and absolutely beautiful in every way, from the inside out. My cousins are my best friends and role models, always there to remind me who I am, who I’ve always been, and who I’ll always be. This week, I’ve been in Colorado. I got to see my oldest sister, who is my opposite in two ways: She can out-bake anyone from here to France, and is always thoughtful and considerate of everyone around her. My other brother-in-law, though he would never agree to this because he has an incredible amount of humility, is the hardest worker and

most intelligent man I’ve ever met in my life. My oldest nephew is sweeter than honey and can build just about anything out of some scotch tape and paper, while my other nephew can talk his way out of anything with his innocent laughter and impressive vocabulary.

I’m writing tonight from my aunt and uncle’s home. My uncle and I can talk for hours on end, with his wild stories and our shared in-depth insight on life and people in general. My aunt has the best style and fashion sense and shares my love for tea, candles, and angels. My other uncle, who had us over for dinner at this evening, is the most effortlessly cool, hilariously sarcastic person I know. His wife, my other aunt is the perfect balance between girly and outdoorsy, as she has literally drawers full of Bath and Body Works lotions, perfumes, etc., yet tomorrow she is hiking up a 14-mile mountain.

     It is after perfect days and weeks of family time I realize how happy it makes me. I never feel as loved as on evenings like this, spent with family who love you more than you feel you deserve, no matter what. I don’t think that warmth and bond can be found or shared anywhere else. If you have any riffs in your family, I encourage you to let go and mend anything you can. If you don’t know your family members well, take the time to get to know them—if they are anything like mine, they’ll have some pretty interesting stories if nothing else…

            Always, Anna