The Power of Family

Sorry I haven't kept up over the past couple days with my blog entries...its been really hectic what with preparing for the funeral and all. Yesterday was the funeral, and incidentally, my birthday as well. I was really upset about the date when I heard about it, but what can you do?

So anyway, the service was really nice, everyone had some beautiful words to say, and we all cried fiercely during the viewing period. Pretty much what you'd expect at a funeral for someone who was well loved by many people. All of our hard work came together beautifully, and the little touches were what made it all so special. That and being surrounded by family.

I was struck yesterday by the power of family. I think that family ties are stronger than anything else known to man. I don't just mean the family you are born into, but also the family you choose, the family that chooses you, and the family you one day realise you've fallen into. Sometimes you marry into a family, sometimes someone marries into your family, and sometimes you just become absorbed into a family after a brief meeting that you didn't think meant all that much at the time.

But regardless of how they become your family, i think that the bond you feel with your family is one of a kind. It doesn't matter whether you are in a fight with one member, or have been in a fight for years with another, in times of pain and trials they are always the ones you turn to, the ones you can always lean on, and the ones who bring you the greatest comfort and relief.

I saw an amazing thing through this painful time-- I saw my family, all the assorted members of it, pull together to support one another. My parents, who cannot even stand to be in the same room 90% of the time, ended up sharing old jokes over dishes. Everyone was all in unison, actually speaking to eachother when some of them haven't even said hi to each other in years. Not even a few months ago during my uncles 10 year memorial did they speak to eachtother, but in this time of extreme pain they were able to all band together and give each other the support and love that they needed.

My parents and my family was so amazing during this time; so supportive and understanding, regardless of what they were all feeling. But one thing that blew me away more so was a large part of my family that I haven't seen in soo long. They are actually my baby sisters family. But when I was younger, they took me in as though I had always been there and treated me like family. I had so many wonderful memories with them, and then one day i didn't see them anymore. I was worried about how they would treat me when we did all come together.

And it was amazing. They treated me as though not a single day had gone by since they saw me last. They were just as caring and wonderful to me as they had always been, as they were being to their family...as though nothing at all had changed. I was their family as much as they were mine. That really filled my heart, took some of the ache away. The way they treated my blood family was just the same. I just felt so overcome by how wonderful people can be, how wonderful family can be.

I thought my birthday was going to be the worst day of my life, but the funeral, and after the funeral feels like 2 totally different days altogether. Amd the part that I got to spend with family is priceless. To not only sense all that love and care around me, but to feel it, was uplifting, and made me see the silver lining on this very dark cloud.

Thank you, family, for filling my heart, yesterday, and everyday before and after it.
I love you all

Cheers

P.S. All my friends are absolutely awesome too!