One Big Happy Family

What makes up your family? Most of us will think about our husbands, children, parents, grandparents, siblings......you know, your family. But as a military family the word family means something different to us. Over the years of being a military family we have moved from place to place as the military saw fit. In each location I found friends that became just like my family. Some of the relationships that form out of necessity stay for a season or for a lifetime.

When my husband moved us to Fort Campbell I wasn't sure what we were doing there. But before to long I met the best group of women I could have ever met. Our husbands were deployed together. We were home-front battle buddies. Almost all of the relationships that were formed over that year are still intact. We are now all spread out all over the country but thanks to Facebook and text messaging we are able to stay in touch. Some of us more than others but we still connect.

When I first moved to NC, one of my best friends, Ashley who is more like a sister to me, invited me to come along to Women of Faith with her family. The first year it was Ashley, Jocelyn-Ashley's sister and Mrs. Lipscomb-Ashley's mom. This was the first trip that we would take together. We now plan every year to go together. Ashley's family has taken me in like I am one of their own.

This past weekend I was able to spend time with that part of my extended family. Ashley's family doesn't live far from where I am. Since we moved to North Carolina I have been able to see my best friend twice a year. Once at Women of Faith and once at Christmas time. This year things were a little different because Ashley's sister is pregnant and unable to travel. Instead of Ashley's family traveling to SC for Christmas they went to where Jocelyn lives and rented a house. Because of time constraints I was invited to come and spend a few days with them instead of Ashley traveling to see me.

I wasn't sure how things would go for the few days we would be together but I was excited to go. I have spent time with the women of the Lipscomb family but other than Ashley's husband I hadn't met any of the Lipscomb men. You never know if things will be awkward or uncomfortable but when I got there it was completely the opposite. Ashley and her family made me feel like I belonged there. It was like I had been there all along. Our time together was relaxing. We just enjoyed being together. Nothing major happened or was planned. No agenda to tackle. It was like I was home with my family.

When you are a military family and move all the time it's hard to be near family. From time to time it's hard for your family to understand your lifestyle and the choices that you have to make. But when you find an extended family that takes you in and loves you and your kids like one of their own it's worth holding on to.