~~~Family~~~

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.
– Anthony Brandt




I moved away from home in 2000...a few months before my 20th birthday. I was excited for new adventure and it was a move that needed to take place. However, there is not a day that goes by that I don't miss my family like crazy. My husband and I had been together 3 years when we moved away from all our family that we have known. Long story short we settled in a small town 2570 kilometers from what we call "home". It was and will always be home to me...however the town we live in now is home as well. And, its not that we don't have family here...its just family I don't really know. My dad's sisters have been there for me/us since we have moved here, but when I first moved here, I only knew these "family members" from a 2 week visit every second year my whole life. That being said, they have grown to be a lot more.

We have managed to get in a few visits throughout the years, including going "home" for our wedding in 2004. Our parents have made a few visits as well. In 2006, when our precious daughter was born, we have seen our parents more than before as K is the first grandchild on both my side of the family and M's side of the family...a very spoiled and VERY loved little girl!! And since K has been born I have even seen my brother here twice (just short visits, but still), and M's sister here once.

I didn't have the whole "homesick" feeling before K was born...Not that I didn't miss everyone, but I didn't feel like I "needed" to move back. Once K was born it was a different story for me. I HATE that she has to grow up sooo far away from not only one, but both sets of grandparents, and her aunt and uncle...plus tonnes and tonnes of other family. I think its because I grew up across the field from one set of grandparents and a 10 minute walk from the other set. I had sleepovers, and played with them and visited with them almost every day. But through the invention of the new (not so new now) technology, K knows her grandparents even when she hasn't seen them in a while...and she always has. Video messages has been awesome for both K and the grandparents...and the added bonus of Facebook lets me share pics with all the family so they can see her growing up.

We had a visit from M's mom in October, and my parents came for Christmas this year!! I was sooo excited...as was K. They just left to go home 2 days ago and I miss them already. Now I have to decide when our trip will be for the year.

I will leave you with a pic of my parents and K during their Christmas trip. This is a pic of them on a horse and wagon ride to look @ all the Christmas lights.