But this was never the case for me.
MY FAMILY, always has, and always will, refer to the brood of aunts, uncles, and cousins that are a direct result of my grandparents, John and Dorothy Deep.
Now, I love my children, husband, sister, brothers,...all of my immediate clan. I truly, really, realllly do. Bunches....
But I realized, after the treasure I was surprised with last week, that when I talk about Brian, Austin, Chloe that I use their names...or titles, like husband and children.
Because when I say "My Family" I immediately get the visual of a dozen of us kids running around my grandparents backyard, while the adults stand around BSing, laughing, and just being...
I have always known what a gift it was to be a part of the Deep heritage. I can recall as far back as my 2nd Birthday and even then, my stomach would get butterflies and my heart would beat faster, knowing the whole "family" was going to be together. For, it is something special, that absolutely allllllll the $money$ in the world could never buy.
It is a present that has had years of effort, love, and time put into....
Our lineage is like a river that slowly carves a design into the side of a mountain...it takes years to perfect and tweak... but at just one glance...the miraculous beauty is obvious and takes. your. breath. away.
And our family..my family...does just that. The variety of personalities of all genders and ages...make up a masterpiece; one that despite all its flaws and challenges is truly a natural wonder. I know that, before they became so frail, my grandparents looked out amongst the "new" dozen kids and plethoras of adult children with their spouses and thought about our dynasty like I do... W.O.W. How did we get so lucky? To have all this love in one little strain of our bloodline?? They were...are...truly thankful for our relationships and so am I.
I am unbelievably grateful for each person and every memory that is in my DEEP ancestory.
So...
Last week, I went to visit some friends in Delaware. Through a series of phone calls, emails, and realizations, it appeared that three of "us Deep cousins" were within an hours drive of each other.
So, we spent the afternoon at the beach together.
What a surprise! One that I will treasure, for, as usual, I had an incredible and awesome afternoon with My Family.
By all means, many were missing, and at times there were pangs of nostalgia that caused a lump in our throats...for those that have passed... but irregardless, that ONE feeling, the one I remember from childhood, was still the same.
Complete and utter contentment.
Why?
Because...
*We were together...laughing...eating...sharing....
*We all belonged.
*We each talked (okay screamed) at the same time because we were too excited to be quiet.
*We felt that foundation of family that was created so many decades ago... even on a beach in Maryland.
*We were living out our heritage in the fashion our grandparents so intended...living and laughing....with love being the centerpiece.
Siggggggh. Big, fat, massively-content sigh.
I love them. All of them. And I thank God, from the bottom of my heart, for the generations of Deep's, both past, present, and future...and for the privilege to be a part of them.
And I will continue to praise Him for every opportunity I get to spend time just being with My Family...
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| Jen, Brooke, Jeff, Michael, Braylen, Sherry, Logan, Mike, Kyle, Rylan, and ME! |
