WE WON!

I don't know how we did it....but WE DID IT!!! 25-23 in the big house! Yeehaw!!!

It was great hanging out with my dad and brother on Saturday. Since my brother left the state to go to law school, I don't see him as much.

I learned patience on Saturday though.... that is for sure. I learned to not throw something at Big Ten refeeres and to not yell at a little kid who's favorite cheer of the day was "how much does utah suck?" (If I wasn't the mature, sophisticated lady that I am- HA- I would have called back "scoreboard.") I also learned that as on fire as Utah can look, we can also win a gold medal in self destructing. ARGH!!

And of course, I had to think about work. But, even when you're in a different state and time zone- there are certain things you just can't get away from. But, that's another thing I learned. There are some things I don't want to get away from. There are some things that I want to be in my life, in my world. There are certain things I don't mind having with me at all times. There are certain things that I can't live without. And those things I will hold on to for as many future weekends as possible.

Oh-and by the way- GO UTES!

Family.

That's an interesting concept for me. The dictionary definition would be the people who you live with, the home and place you are born and raised in, the blood and genes you share with those that usually also share your last name. But family is deeper than that. And family can mean so much more than that. Of course, there are the grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, immediate, extended, what have you. But, there are so many other types of families that one can belong to, that one can aspire to be.

Work families, church families, sorority/fraterntiy families (I was in a religious sorority in college, and it was nice to have a such a strong sisterhood connection with all those girls) and then the family I am going to talk about.

You have friends in your life that you just can't do without. They see all your faults.... and love you anyway. They listen to all your stories.... again and again. They lift you up when you are having the worst day possible.... and to make it even better, they can tell when you are having the worst day possible. They make your life a more perfect place, just by being in it. You don't have to be related to these people by blood at all, but in a way you are still related. You are still family. The bond is so strong and you are so close that no other term can fit. The love you have for that friend or for that person can fall under no other descripton than... "they are a part of my heart, they are a part of my family."

I have such people in my life. And it took me my surprise this past weekend just how much these people truly mean to me. They are my true family in every sense of the word, even though there is no blood relation there. I wouldn't be who I am without them, and I will never have the breath or the time to tell them just how much they mean to me. They are my second family.... and I truly do love them. One of them knows....the rest will surely follow. And I will follow my heart from here on out, wherever it leads me. Because I know now where my home really is.