Families come in all shapes, sizes, colors and places - Updated

Over the course of my life I have learned each year how incredibly blessed I am to have such a wonderful family.

As a kid, you just simply can't appreciate the things that make it wonderful, but as I've been exposed to other family situations, I have found that we are actually very unique.

Growing up, we were like ordinary kids, arguing, fighting, etc. My brother Mark hated me. Took me until I was 13 to figure out that it was only because I took the "baby" title away from him when he was 4. Sorry Mark, I didn't have a whole lot of input in that, blame Mom and Dad.

Anyway each year we get closer and closer. I suppose we got all of our fighting and arguing out as kids.

And over the years our family keeps growing. Some are born into it, some are married into it, a couple of girls started out as my co-workers but have developed into daughters of my heart. I have a nephew that our family "married" when his mother married my brother, I have another "nephew" that my sister "adopted" when he was here from India getting his masters at Purdue. He and his wife have truely become family although he lives on the other side of the earth.

We are about to get two new members to our family. Most of us has not yet seen them, but a precious little miracle is about to occur in the lives of two little girls who were not as blessed as we were with growing up with loving caring parents. The oldest one is so excited she left a message for her new "mom". The message here has only been edited to leave my new niece's name private.

What I love most about my family is that none of us put restrictions on who we consider family. We don't bother with who has the actual family gene because we realize that those that don't have our "gene" have been given to us by God, not biology.

Congratulations to the new mom and dad. I can't wait to see my new two nieces. Go easy, it will be a big and wonderful adjustment which will enrich two little girls lives in ways that they cannot yet imagine.

UPDATED: The girls have been having "visits" this week with their new mom and dad. Looks like they will be moved permanently this weekend and they'll get their first visit from their new Grandma and Grandpa!!!!

Can't wait till Aunt Rita gets to see them. And I know I'll be their favorite aunt!!!!