Hi,

I love extended family! I love all the quirks and tilts of the head and laughter when one cousin recognizes the traits of another cousin, which was passed down the family line from an aunt, who inherited that from the grandma. My cousin Glenda is the spitting image of our Aunt Bonita. My cousin Rita looks so much like my mom and grandma.

Can you tell we attended a huge family reunion this past weekend? From thirteen original siblings came over fifty first cousins just for me--or so I've always believed. At the reunion there were around a hundred people. I'm still floating on the high from that cherished time.

I never had siblings, so my mother made sure I spent as much time as possible with my cousins. What a blessing that was! I had brothers and sisters galore whenever we would visit one of Mom's siblings. And they all welcomed me with open arms as a bonus sibling. Now I enjoy looking back on all the good times, because when I was visiting there were only good times. All my cousins were on their best behavior when I was there--most of the time. And when they weren't, I was in the middle of it with them.

Something that also struck me this weekend was the fact that the majority of my cousins are siblings in another sense--they are believers. We aren't all the same denomination, but we are of the same faith--in Christ. That brings double joy. Imagine one day when we aging family members will attend our final reunion, with no creaking bones, no aches, no illnesses, and no fighting or anger.

Mel attended this family reunion with me, and several of my cousins wanted to keep him when I left. He might not be blood related, but he's been adopted into the family with love and acceptance. That's the way God's family works--we are all related by the blood of Christ.

Who is your family? They don't have to share your DNA to be your family. What are some of your favorite memories?