It's Family

We have had a crazy few days over here.
We have had extended family in town visiting since Saturday. My uncle, his wife, and their 6 year old daughter Olivia (my cousin!) were in from IL.

We started the weekend with a birthday party, then a pool party with family, then everyone going to dinner and a ball game. Sunday was church, my sisters baby shower, and then 18 family members at my house for dinner. Monday we all packed it up and went to the beach for the day. Tuesday we wore ourselves out at the gym and pool. Last night I broke my nose, and this morning we got up early for horse riding.

And right now I am just SITTING HERE DOING NOTHING!!!

Whew.

My girls really enjoyed playing with their cousin, whom they have only met once before. They all got along pretty well, and were sad to see her leave last night.

It's funny, because even though the kids didn't really know each other before their arrival, preparations started well before they got here. Rooms had to be cleaned, toys picked up. I even made a trip to Justice to buy Olivia a singing Hannah Montana doll as a suprise gift from Emma and Clara. We ran around like nuts once they arrived and spent far more money than we had intended, just to give everyone a good time and be together. But mainly because - it's family.

Isn't there a different kind of willingness that we show to family that we don't even know well or ever see? A certain way that we tend to put their needs and desires ahead of our own, and give them the royal treatment, because - it's family.

There are so many people that we all come into contact with everyday. Friends, neighbors, acquaintances, coworkers. Some we like, some we aren't so crazy about. What if we could somehow manage to treat everyone like long-lost family? What if we truly could love each other like Christ loves His church? See each other as family members, who all have the same Father? Because all those people - they really are family.