Dear Fam,

Hey, what’s up, hello? God knows how long its been since I’ve seen some of you. Especially now that we’re in Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina and New York. We’re really branching out. Go, us! I hope you’re all well. Sometimes when I’m on Facebook I feel old because I can keep in contact and see what were all doing even if we don’t text everyday.

There’s some things I haven’t said to you all that I feel I really should. There is nothing for anyone specifically, all of what I have to say is for every single one of you, and I mean them from the bottom of my heart. So here it goes…

Thank you for accepting me.

Thank you for taking my family in as your own. Every single memory I have as a child is with you all in it. From birthday parties to playdates to road trips to come visit you. You all are in my mind and forever in my heart. When some of you moved away when I was younger I remember being so upset. I literally felt like my world was falling apart at the age of seven. I felt like everyone was leaving me and that it was the end but little did I know we had so much more in store for us.

Thank you for showing me what a family is.

This letter isn’t meant to hurt my biological family, but to show you all how much I appreciate you. Whenever I describe any of you to anyone those family terms are always brought up. “This is my aunt, my cousin, my granny.” There is no explaining to them that we may not be biological because in my heart we are. Even if our bodies don’t cycle the same blood, we are one. We are one crazy, Irish loving family and I wouldn’t trade it for a single second.

I'm sorry.

I’m sorry for never telling you more often how much I love you. How much you all mean to me. How excited I get when I get to see you for a week or a random weekend during a semester. Our time together is precious. I learned the hard way that we really don’t know what we have until its gone and to never take anything or anyone for granted. When life through me a curveball when dad died, you all knew before me, and waited to talk to me until after mom told me. And once she did you were all the first people I heard from and the only people that I cared to hear from. You were the only people I wanted to be with.

Thank you for supporting me.

Whether we were sitting right next to each other or we were 10 hours away and talking on the phone, you all gave me the support I needed. When I chose to attend Alabama you all reached out to me and told me how proud you are of me and how proud dad would be and that meant the entire world to me. I always wonder if dad is proud when I’m up at 2 a.m. stressing over a paper or preparing for a case. I wonder if putting myself through all of this is worth it and you remind me that it is and you force me to keep pushing.

And lastly…Thank you for loving me.

There are not enough words in the English language to express the amount of love and gratitude I have for every single one of you. Life is short and I don’t want to waste a single second without you all knowing how I truly feel. Most of you know every time I leave Aunt Lynn, we're usually crying... but the simple fact is I’m like that with all of you. And yes they are sad tears a little bit, but more then that there happy in a way. I’m happy that I have loving people to surround me that I get upset when I have to say goodbye.

“Family isn’t always blood, and blood isn’t always family.” If that quote doesn’t describe my life then I don’t know what does. And as I finish this letter literally balling my eyes out, I hope you all fell the same thing I do... love. The love I have for you is over flowing and infinite. I swear my mom, brother and I are the luckiest three people because we have all of you that love and care for us. So thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you all from the bottom of my heart, to the moon and back, and any other saying there is out there. I don’t think there is one though, that can really explain to you how I feel. I love you all so much!

Love your niece/cousin/granddaughter,

Rachel