I have a real good friend of mine who always says "Family over everything" , meaning family is forever. I never really believed in that, at least the past four or five years I haven't. But lately family has been laying heavy on my mind.

Maybe it's because I'm growing up, and realizing the importance of family. Or because I have a six-month-old niece who I love more than life itself, so it's important to surround her by family now while she's little. Or maybe it's because in the end, you can always count on your family. Being out of high school for two years now, losing friends every month, week, day, stressing over money, work, college and everything in between, the only people who have been by my side through it all is my family.

I don't come from a huge family like some people do. I have my parents, three siblings, grandma and grandpa, and some aunts, uncles and cousins in between. I do however, come from a crazy, weird, unbelievably hectic and confusing family. But that's why I love them, because we're all far from normal. Sometimes, not being normal is the most fun.

It doesn't matter the size of your family. Whether you have no siblings or 10 siblings, one aunt or 12 aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents for that matter. And I'm sure just like me, some of you call some people your aunts, uncles or cousins even if they're not related to you, or they're just close family friends. Doesn't matter, they're your family, and no one can take that away from you

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I always think to myself, "who will be there for me when times get rough" or "who can I truly count on?" Normally I would be like "Oh this friend, no wait that friend". Nope. Family. Family will always be there when times get rough. When you're sad, when you need to talk or vent, when you feel alone, they're who you can trust. Because in the end, you will always have your family.

Sure, you're not always going to get along with the fam. That's normal! There will be plenty of fights, arguments, disagreements or regrets. You may not talk or see some of your family in years. But that doesn't mean anything. You'll always love your family. No matter how big, small, normal or crazy your family is, family is forever.

I wish I knew what I know now about the importance of family years ago. I wish my feelings about family was stronger than what it used to be. But, that's part of growing up, it's a learning experience. Becoming an adult, doing adult things, becoming independent, you need people you can trust in your life. You need someone to fall back on and to be there for you. I have learned that it's my family. My parents, brothers, niece, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, they're my back bone.

They are the world to me.

They are everything to me.

They are my family.

They are forever.