Writing out of obligation or desire? In the case of family...

So out of request to write, I have decided to (please don't let the wonderful picture distract you, it will come in to play later). After comments from Diacogiannis family members, this urging to write has come up. What I wonder now is: is this obligation or desire? Either way, I am here to share. So I am at work right now. I am definitely not supposed to be writing while at work but when you're hired full time but only have enough work to fill a part time position you must find other ways to keep yourself "busy" while still being on the clock. So here goes...

Friday the 15th was my 21st birthday. That was definitely lot's of fun! I ended up having an entire weekend long birthday celebration. This is NOT because I was drinking all weekend long, I actually only drank on Friday and not even that much...I think. So on Friday my sisters and some girl friends and I dressed up nice, went to dinner, and went to Poppe's (a jazz martini bar). We had so much fun! Highlights of the night: getting to dress up, being with people I love, getting a tiara from my bestie Sal Jo, and shooting down a guy at the bar who asked me for my number. Great times!

On Saturday we had my family birthday. My sister Laura came up from Seattle (she couldn't make it on Friday). It was seriously the best birthday ever. My whole family was there, except Jesse :( But we had so much fun. Laura bought me a book called "What Sisters Share." It was perfect! Lately it has been really hard for me to grow up. I am constantly missing my sisters and wishing we could go back in time and be kids again for a day. Man! We fought like crazy as kids but had SO much fun. I love my sisters more than life! They are my best friends and always will be. Now we have the joy of watching Kari and Natalie's kids grow up. I love these kids and would give anything for them. I am so thankful for my wonderful, amazing, loving family!

On Sunday we skipped church and all went to Natalie's house. It was a perfect family day! Beautiful outside, I took Olivia and Austin out to play in the morning and then we took all the kids to the park later. I can't wait for summer when we can do that everyday if we want.

Here are my thoughts on growing up:
It's completely inevitable so there is no point in hating it, which I don't. But it's not easy. Maybe it's harder for me because I'm the youngest and I'm in a stage that my three big sisters have already passed. There's been A LOT of change in my life over the past 10 months and it's hard to deal with. But no matter what, I will always have my family. Yes being "grown up" isn't half as fun as growing up (as said by The Ataris), but it has it's many beautiful rewards as well. I now have amazing relationships with every member of my family, a lot of healing has taken place, and my nieces and nephews are a gift of joy as I watch them grow up. Loving those kids is a hobby and it's one of my favorites! All I have to say is that God is amazing! He has blessed my family abundantly even through the HARDEST of times. The healing and forgiveness that has taken place in all our lives individually and together is astounding. When your older sister was the meanest person you'd ever met, took all her anger out on you, and said terrible things to you as a kid and is now one of your best friends and the love between you two is inseparable, that is love.

I find myself rambling. Guess I had something to say after all.

Moral of the story: Nothing besides God is near as important as family.