We have only a super small number of immediate family members that live within an hour and a half of us. Three to be exact. My mom, my step dad and one of my brothers.

The closest other immediate family members we have near us live over seven hours away. It’s heartbreaking most of the year. We hate not having the option of inviting family over last minute for dinner, a camp fire, catching fireflies in the summer, or an evening movie outside. We hate that we can’t meet at the museum or the Y or have our kids grow up near their cousins.

But on those few days of the year that we actually do get to spend time with the ones who live so far away, we know not to take it for granted. We love our time with them, and we always want them to know that.

Now if we could only find a way to see the rest of the family more! Everyone is SO spread out, it’s not even funny. Crazy how that happens over the years!