Familamily

We lived far away from family, for what seemed like forever.

We spent the first year of our marriage in Utah.

Moved back to Washington, had Kate, stayed 8 more months and then moved to Utah again.

Spent 2 more years in Utah while Jeff finished his degree, then moved back to Washington.

After just one year in Washington, we moved to Rhode Island.

We spent 4 1/2 wonderful, glorious, happy years in Rhode Island and then moved to Utah for more school.

We spent 2 years in grad school and then moved to Washington at the end of all that.

We have now been in Washington for 2 years.

Why am I telling you all of this?

When we lived "away" we would come home for visits about once a year. There would be big family get togethers where we would try and catch up with everybody. It was always fun and nice to see everyone and then we would pack up our 18 suitcases and fly back to wherever home was.

Now that we live here, a funny thing has happened.

I feel like I actually know everybody. It's not just playing catchup anymore.

My sister-in-laws and I call eachother to talk or with questions or what have you. And this is amazing for me. I have inherited a definite dislike for talking on the phone. I don't know why. I get nervous, I act weird, I sweat and then I try and think of an excuse to get off. Thank goodness for email or so many people I love would never think I love them.

It's a strange phobia, this fearofphone-ia. Jeff has gotten used to me saying "no, you call, I don't want to" or me just handing him the phone when it rings.

But I digress.

We don't see everyone on a daily basis obviously, since everyone has their own lives and managing that many schedules and finding a safe place for 1800 grandchildren to run around can be difficult.

But when we are together the only catch up is hearing what's happened since last week. It's knowing the dilemmas of starting kindergarten, or a new baby, of a child about to become a teenager, or babysitting for extra money, kitchen remodels, skunks trying to eat the chicks, color choices for little girl bedrooms, yard sale finds, gardening.

It's hearing how service projects for a backwoods gentleman are going, meeting adorable girlfriends (we all REALLY like her Dave) hoping to hear soon that there is a new baby on the way or watching grandma give all her grandchildren piano lessons.

It's talking and laughing and no weird silences. And I definitely have no problems talking in person. I could talk and talk and talk until everyone, including myself, is sick of hearing my voice. But don't tell me if you're sick of my voice, I'm sensitive.

So, this is my way of telling you all that I'm glad to be home. I'm glad to know you all and to not miss out on your daily life, your children's lives, or the little things that go on.

Thank you for being my family. Like you had a choice, but you know what I mean.