A New Definition of Family

The Oxford Dictionary defines "family" as: a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit.  Webster's Dictionary defines it as: a group of people who are related to each other.


This past weekend we had the pleasure of having some friends visit with us.  They were here to do their required training for their upcoming Winter hosting of two teens from Latvia.  They arrived late Friday night and were headed back home to western Pennsylvania by Sunday morning.  Less than forty-eight hours and yet during that short period of time some magic happened.


We first met Dorah in May of this year at the Summer hosting training for New Horizons. We spent the day with her and the other families who were hosting but it was less than eight hours after we first met that we were back in our respective cars and heading back to our respective homes.  We stayed in touch since then and have grown closer.  We both blogged our experiences over the summer and learned a lot about each other during this whole process.  When she walked through the door Friday night it was like an old friend stopping by while passing the neighborhood.  Big smiles all around and big hugs to go with them!  We laughed, shared stories and discovered that we are both old movie buffs.  In fact, I found out that Indiana, PA is Jimmy Stewart's hometown!!! I also learned that they do the town up just like Bedford Falls at Christmas time. (I feel a road trip coming!)


We also hosted Bryan and Stephanie.  We had never physically met before but only "met" in cyber world.  they also regaled us with stories of how they all met each other and the many adventures they have shared during their friendship.  The place was full of laughter and lively conversation on serious, and not serious, topics. Stephanie and Bryan are undertaking a fundraiser for their hosting - Stephanie is knitting and selling miniature Latvian mitten ornaments.  They are priceless and we will be hanging them on our tree and our kids' tree in the future!  What a great reminder of the cause and the love that went into each pair of mittens.  By the end there were no "fugs" here (For those of you not in the know, a "fug" is a fake hug).


The truth is we have a very, VERY unconventional family.  We have Peter, who although he is technically not blood related to us, is very much considered a son to us.  We have Dorah, Steph and Bryan under our family umbrella not to mention the dozens and dozens of our church members, friends and co-workers.  But strangely enough, even people we have never actually met we feel a bond with and would welcome them into our home with lots of hugging and kissing - the Grahams, the Brysons, the Steinmanns, the Coxwells, the Rhoads, the Normans (the list could go on and on).  Not blood related but family nonetheless.

Webster's also defines "family" as a group of people united by a common conviction.  Here's the definition I like: a group of people united by a common thread - love.  I'm liking that definition.  I think K will fit right into that "family"!!  Welcome to the family!