Friends that are Family

My mom's best friend growing up passed away from Breast Cancer too many years ago. Her daughter's name is Tara and has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. She has always visited during the summers to go to the beach and other vacation-type things. It never occured to me that she wasn't blood-related. She was just always included and thought of like a cousin...closer even.

As the years have gone by, we've come to like the same things...The Beatles, Summer Camps, Ministry (in whatever form it may take)...in fact, it is thanks to Tara that "color me happy" even exists. She was with me the first time I painted pottery and introduced me to that addiction.

She is now all grown up and married and lives in Maryland. Last week, her and Ben got to come down and visit for Thanksgiving. The time was not long enough. I am so happy to get to know her husband better--and every moment spent with him, I realize more and more why Tara chose him. Of course, I love catching up and all but something occured to me this visit...my kids will never know that Tara (and Mimi and Uncle) have not always been part of our family just like I never realized that Aunt Alice (Tara's mom) wasn't really part of ours.

But I guess they always have been, really. Family is family. Tara has no siblings so when she was younger, she was sad that she would never be an aunt and my mom told her that my kids would call her Aunt Tara...they do and they will never know any different.

Happy Birthday Aunt Tara! You are loved by your little ones down here in GA (and Dave and me)!