Thanksgiving - Extended Family and In-Laws

The other day Anything at Anytime posted "A Prelude to Thanksgiving", today I will fill in my list with one of the things that deserves a post of its Own.

A little over 15 years ago I met a Woman that captured my heart in the matter of two blinks of an eye.  I have always been (in my opinion) a "Romantic", but I never believed that someone could find "The One" that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with in such a manner and Know it right then and there.

*Nasty Crooked Curve ball coming!*

This post is not about that Woman.
*See, You all thought I was going to Post about her today.  Not!*

This is about that Woman's Family: Parents, Brother, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and extended Family.

Of course this will be laced heavily towards her Parents and Brother as they are the most influential in my life on a day to day basis.

14 years and 4 months ago I was introduced to her Family - ALL of the FAMILY!  As mentioned above, I got to meet all of the Aunts (had to pass all of the "Is he right for her?" questioning and grilling (they didn't toast me to bad!)).  Next, was all of the Uncles and Cousins - One Uncle (I respect and enjoy his friendship today) went so far as to tell me "I like you so will give you fair warning, You hurt her -I WILL HURT YOU!"
If you Really Love someone, you don't take that as a threat you take that as a message of how much others Love her as well, at least that is how I look at it.

The Entire Family accepted me and just opened the "Door" to me so to speak.  I was folded under the wing of the Family and from that point on have been a Part of that Family.
I Thank God all the time for them and their acceptance!

My In-Laws, well, they are a story all of their own.  I met them a few days after meeting her.  Unbeknownst to me, She had (having the same instant Feeling I did) already informed her Mom that I was "The One".  So from moment one of our meeting I was under the Mother and Father Microscope!
I Thank God my parents brought me up to respect women and respect my elders!  I believe that That is what got me to the "I Like him stage!"

Over the next several days, I spent many hours with her Family (Momma, Frank and Mike).  Most of which was me out on the back porch with Frank and Mike and Beer in hand.  I had No clue that all of the talking between the three of us was to see how I would "Fit" with His Daughter and His Sister.  Looking Back, That is exactly what that was.

We do not fit into the "In-Law" mold that is portrayed most often.
My Mother-in-Law is not my "Mother-in-Law" - She is Momma!  and I am her "Son".
My Father-in-Law is not my "Father-in-Law" - He is Frank, a fellow veteran, and a very Dear Friend!
Mike, My Brother-in-Law, is a Brother in all forms of the word and adores his Sister like No other, and is an Awesome Uncle to my Daughters.
When any of them need help, we are there.  When We need help - They are there!  No questions, No nothing other than "Here, Take this."  No ifs, ands or buts - just There!

I have traveled a great part of this world in my life and never found a place or Family I was so readily accepted and made to feel a part of.  They have been "Happy" with me and "Sad" with me, as I with them.  I was not made to feel as if I had to "Prove" or "Earn" my place in this Family,  I was there immediately.

I am so Thankful that I have been given the Honor to be an accepted, active part of this Family from the first day I became a member of it.


I Wish and Hope that you all have similar acceptance and Love from your extended Families.