I've probably started 15 posts since my last one at the beginning of June, all of which have been abandoned as half-hearted attempts to document in words or pictures the crazy adventure that life has been for me lately. To say the least it has been a series of major ups and downs with more than a few twists and turns here lately. I would love to blog about the amazing things I experienced during our week-long tropical vacation in Hawaii, or about how much I am enjoying my new job (although it has come with it's own set of hurdles to overcome as well). I could tell you about the new apartment Tory and I are moving into in the next 2 weeks, where we are so excited to officially unofficially start our life together. There has even been some progress in the wedding planning front that is certainly blog-worthy... these are all of the little things that have been filling up my life this last month and which I've been contemplating blogging about for the last 44 days but one way or another haven't had the time or energy to. Tonight I don't have much energy at all and my time would probably be more wisely spent sleeping or even starting to fill the empty cardboard in my room with all of the things in this world that are mine, but I am feeling compelled to write about something that I've been thinking a lot about recently.

Family.

I have always considered Tory's family an extension of my own. 4 people who I love, who love me, who, over the last 7 years, have watched me grow into the adult that I am today. 4 people who are proud of me, care for me, and have contributed so much to my life since entering it in 2003. They've been my family for 7 years, but recently the meaning of that word has transformed for me. Suddenly I feel more responsible to adequately fulfill the same roll I have held. I have ownership in this family now. I hold a valuable stake in it. They are mine. They will always be mine and I will always be a part of theirs now.

I didn't realize how important this was to me until recently.