Family

Tomorrow, we are driving to Charlotte to spend the day. We are going to meet up with some girls that Erin went to school with that are now teaching in Charlotte. Then we will wait for Lana to call, and we are going to try and get together with her. Lana will be in Charlotte for auditions, "Cattle calls" I think she calls them. We are so excited to get to see some family. We did this last year and were able to grab a late dinner with Lana and a friend of hers, and we had a blast. We so rarely get to see extended family, and this will be great. Most people from this area really don't understand what a big deal this is. Mom, I know that you experienced this. Family, here, lives about twenty minutes away in all directions. Sundays consist of lunch at Grandma and Grandpa's, and people are amazed when I tell them it has been YEARS since I have seen mine. Sometimes I wish that we lived closer to family, but at the same time, I think that it means so much more when we do see each other. Family seems to be taken for granted around here because everyone is so close in distance.

It is hard. Nathan is in PA. I have a nephew I have not met, and he is four months old. Austin is is SC, though he does make regular trips here, and Mom and Dad are an hour and a half away. I always thought I would be the one to move away. It just seemed normal. That is what all of my family did, so why wouldn't I go somewhere else? Nope, here I am. North Carolina is beautiful. I love this state. I just wish that travel was not so expensive or family lived closer.

Alissa is in Chapel Hill now. She is about an hour away, but with her crazy schedule, and ours, we still have not had a chance to just get together. Mom and Dad always invite her to our family stuff, and that is great. It is amazing to actually have an extended family member in the same state.

If you have family down the road, treasure it.