My Family 

 

I don't think you truly appreciate your family until you move away from home and they aren't around anymore. I have certainly learnt that in the last ten months. You see, that is when I set off for my vacation to the United States. The only thing is, I haven't been back since! Unexpected things are always certain to happen and that being the case, I am still here. Happily married to the most wonderful man, but never the less, still here. I love my new home, which is Texas, but I find I am missing Australia and my "rellies" (relatives, for those unfamiliar with Aussie slang) more and more everyday. Last Christmas was the very first one I had ever spent away from my family. I was in Lynchburg, Virginia at the time. (It was so strange to see snow outside on Christmas day! It was at the wrong time of the year!!!) For several different reasons this Christmas seems very important to be back with my family once again. Definitely one of those reasons is that I want my family to meet David, my husband. My Mother has been quite ill as well. She's doing much better now, but it makes me realize that time is very precious and I really miss spending time with her. Another reason why spending this Christmas with David and my family means so much.  My family are quite a mixed bunch. (I guess like so many families are these days.) Before my Mum and Dad were married to each other they had both lost their first spouses to illness; Dad's wife to cancer and Mum's husband to pneumonia. They both also had children from their first marriages. Mum had a daughter, Gail and Dad had a son and a daughter.. Then they met and married and after quite awhile, they adopted me! Tiny, six week old little me. It was almost like being an only child at times because my brother and sisters were grown, left home and married when I was still only a toddler. My father died when I was 16 years old. After that it was just Mum and me. The family I have now at home in Brisbane consist of Mum, Gail, her husband and family. Gail has two children, Lisa and Glen. They were always more like a brother and sister to me than my actual brother and sisters, simply because their ages were much closer to mine. Lisa is only eight years younger than me and we have always been very close. One of the things I miss most is our silly girl talks! I am very proud of the successes Lisa and Glen have had. Lisa in her studies of Human Movements and Dietetics and Glen in Basketball.  Does this all sound like I am homesick??? Well, probably for a good reason; I am. Hopefully, it won't be too long before David and I will be able to travel back to Australia and I can then give all the members of my family the biggest hugs they have ever had! And I can thank them properly for all the support they have given me whilst I have been living over here. (Also the huge phone bills they have racked up calling me to keep me up to date on everything!!!)