Family

Family. Everybody has one. Big or small, they can make a huge impact on your life. Besides the Lord, my family is my #1. They are my support system, my rock and shoulder, so without them I am nothing.

A year ago, we lost two members of our family, my uncle Tony and cousin Lou. It was sudden and largely unexpected. Their passings were huge hits to my Father's family because that side of my family is really close. That kind of closeness is something that I have craved for my Mom's side of the family. Granted, we are closer than we used to be but we need a lot more work. Both sides of my families have to make a better effort to spend time with each other and not just at parties, weddings and funerals, myself included. But I will stop here because this post isn't to talk about that. 

I wanted to write about the fact that before the passing of my uncle and cousin, it had been years (or decades) since our family had lost a large player in the family. Unfortunately, what comes with time is aging. My surviving grandparents are 75 (maternal g'ma) and 86 (paternal g'pa) and their health is declining. My parents, aunts, uncles and even cousins are getting older and are only going to get older. I am not ready to lose any one of them at this point even though this reality is much closer than ever.

So I wanted to take this time and say that I LOVE you family! For all those that I don't get to speak, see, or even those I have never met, don't think I have forgotten about you. I LOVE you too! I appreciate each and every one of you and are thankful to have you all in my life! God Bless you all!

Here's just a small piece of my Family at our annual 4th of July Party, July 2010 :)

{Photo by Tio Flor}