My family is fun. We are big, we know how to get loud and have a good time, and we’re not afraid to ask good, tough questions to one another. We are bound by our faith in Jesus. Even though that faith looks different in each one of us, it’s how we learned to love one another, through the good times and the bad. And believe me, there have been plenty of both! But the older I get the more and more I appreciate my extended family and love being one of the Jones’.

I mean, how could you not have fun with an extended family that celebrates everybody’s birthday with “quarterly” get-togethers? And at said birthday parties you can always expect to find a cocktail in your hand, perhaps a nerf gun fight to breakout, or even and most often, a dance party to top off the festivities! Something crazy just seems to happen when we are all together and  drinking celebrating. The fun is even better because it comes from a place of love and respect and general joy for being together.

My boyfriend is still a little new to these get-togethers. We’ve been together plenty long, but having just finished doing long distance for the last two years, he’s missed out on them until now. His family isn’t quite as big as mine, or loud, or include as many kids under the age of 10, but he seems to be adjusting just fin. At our last event he didn’t hesitate to jump in when the boys went outside to play basketball or chase the little ones around, and he certainly did not refuse a chocolate cake shot! He fits in already. I really appreciate how my family has welcomed Kevin in and I love seeing him be able to bond with my everyone now that he live close by.

Besides having fun, another thing I value about my family is that they ask great questions. They care, and they are generally interested in one another and helping each other prosper. Sometimes the questions are deep life inquiries, sometimes about work or kids, but for Kevin and I they are always about when we are getting married. Always. Every time. With good reason I suppose, out of my generation of 7 cousins, I’m the baby and the only one who is unmarried. I’m one of only 3 out the 7 without children. Our answer is usually that we are young and taking our sweet time.

The questions always come and although some may find it obnoxious, I kind of secretly love it, because it means this family I have cares for me and it is just another way they show their love. Kevin is a really good sport about it too! And really, there’s no point in fighting it, because the question will never stop. They’ll always keep challenging us, pushing us, holding us accountable to our dreams and goals, not only as a couple, but as individuals too. Besides, that’s what family is for! And I love mine.