Family

 I love family.  There is something so special about people who, although you may not live close or see each other often, you just have a connection that is strong.  A few weekends ago was spent catching up on people lives.  It was so much fun spending time with my aunt and her cousins, my mom, my siblings and cousins, and my kids' cousins.  The kids, who some we only see this one time per year, just start from where they left off last year....a closer bond then anyone else you rarely see.  Our family has been going to Cannon Beach/Seaside for decades.  Every spring we would brave the wind and rain to walk on the beach, get donuts in town, watch March Madness in our cottages we rented, drink Diet Pepsi through licorice straws, and get to goof off in one cottage while our parents were in the other cottage.  I can remember running around with my cousins, playing in the sauna, and finally being old enough to walk downtown by ourselves.  It seems like all those things just happened to us, but this weekend, I found myself in a conversation with my brother and cousin about gray hair and how strange it is to have a middle school student.  Lots of family memories and lots more family memories to make!  We are so blessed!