Family

I don't talk about my family much on here, because oftentimes I'm irritated with one member or another, and also I think they deserve a bit of privacy.  G has to okay any post I do that involves something foolish he says or when I'm upset.  It's a rule I put on myself, so that I respect the boundaries of our relationship.  But I would like to take a minute to talk about my family.  

My parents have been married over 27 years.  Sometimes they have huge blow ups, and life has been a lot harder than it has been easy.  But they are each other's best friends and love each other so much.  My mother and I are a lot alike, and never fails to remind me I essentially married my father.  Because G and my Dad are a lot alike (especially the irritating traits, isn't that always the way?).  

I am one of 4 kids, the oldest, with 3 younger brothers.  The oldest is a father, and that's the best damn thing he's ever done.  We fight like cats and dogs, but in the end he values my opinion a lot, and I love him to pieces.  The middle brother is so much like me at times it's not even funny.  We made up our own little group called "The Beautiful People" and G is a member because he married me.  We're slightly snarky when we're together, he has that 18 year old attitude that drives me nuts, but I am so proud of who he is.  My youngest brother is my baby.  I would literally murder someone if they hurt him, and I don't believe in killing.  He is one of the most intelligent people I know, and I loved being home this summer because he enjoyed having me and G around.  As so often happens, he's the youngest, slightly annoying (he's at that teenage age), and he doesn't feel like he's listened to a lot, so G and I did a lot of just hanging out with him this summer.  

My family is really close.  We're loud, boisterous, and argue more than we should.  But we are very, very tight knit.  We go to bat for one another, we fight for one another, and it doesn't even matter if we don't agree with a decision, we try and be supportive.  And I am missing my family like crazy right now.  My mom goes through "Kalee-withdrawels" and wishes I was there to hug a lot.  My dad is not perfect, but he's one of the best men I know, and he has the perfect lap.  My eldest brother is a moron (if anyone outside our family called him that I'd smack them), but I can see the possibilities with his life, and I miss having more chats with him.  My middle brother cannot keep a secret for the life of him, so if I want to know something about anything going on, he's the one that I ask.  And my baby brother is by far the best person I know (sorry G).  His kind nature makes me so excited to see the type of man he turns into.  

So that's my night in a nutshell.  I've been lost in thought a lot.  I haven't been home for Christmas in 3 years, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we will be this year.  But I'm wishing I was there for Thanksgiving.  I miss that family time.  I miss my mom's cooking (we're skipping turkey this year---it's been too ridiculous cooking that huge meal for the 2 of us).  I miss playing baseball or football outside with my brothers and dad.  I miss going around the table and saying what we're thankful for.  I got lucky.  God gave me a family that at times drives me batty and makes me want to stop speaking to them, but then I'll get a call from them, just to say hello, to check in.  I'll get a goofy Halloween card from my mom (thank God she finally quit sending those obnoxious sounding ones that talk at you).  And I'll miss them once again.