We are family!

First, I have to plug a blog. My good friend Clint has created a new blog. So go check it out: My Name Is Not Cliff. The name was my idea :)

My grandmother and uncle have been in town for the Christmas holiday. They tend to cause issues each time they come. In fact, I usually tweak my schedule when one or both are around in order to avoid any and all contact, because I tend to become frustrated and angry by the end of the visit. I've always been the Black Sheep of the family, so I tend to not identify with many of my relatives. Things were no different this visit, as my grandmother and uncle both decided to drive me crazy with their support of the Utah Utes, a team which I grew up rooting for, and actually would have rooted for in the Sugar Bowl if not for their constant needling. But this isn't a post on that game (don't hold your breath...).

In the midst of this family fun, Lindsay came back into town. She arrived on New Year's Day, but the dorms didn't open until yesterday, so she stayed in my room (I was happily relegated to the couch, for those of you accusing us of any funny business). As we spent time together under one roof, I considered a few things about family that I have learned or realized in the past few months thanks to my marriage class, church classes, etc.:

• I love the family that I was born into, and I am glad that they are mine.
• I am my parents' child, even though at times I claim that I am not, either due to adoption or an accidental switch at the hospital.
• When I get married, I'm not just marrying a girl, I'm marrying her family.
• A family doesn't have to be defined by blood - in fact, I consider several of my closer friends to be an important part of my family.

I love my family, and I am glad to include you in that statement. My blog family is important to me, even though I don't demonstrate that in the quantity of my posts. Happy New Year, and make twenty-aught-nine a memorable year. I resolve to write more often - at least weekly. So hold me to it!