Kyla's birthday/You can make your own family

Today is Kyla's birthday. My other mom, Helena, posted this on Ky's facebook page: "The bond that links your true family is not of blood but of respect and joy in each other's lives."

And she would know. Having accepted three kids who were not her blood offspring as her own, and then a few more strays like Kyla, who just needed a second mom somewhere, she's speaking from experience.

Kyla has always been like a sister to me, and my Dad has watched her grow up, albeit from a distance. Our families have been a strange blend over the years with her parents stepping in for me at times when I needed them, and mine stepping in for her at other times. When the opportunity presented itself for them to step in and step up, for her, they did.

Amoung many, many things, this is one thing that makes me look up to John and Helena. That complete ability to put themselves out for someone else, and see it not just as an opportunity to help another, but one that enriches their own lives. Kyla was invited into our home and family, no questions asked. And there have been others, Vivian predominantly. But there were people who came before her as well. I'll never forget the summer one of my friends, who is from Grenada, came home with us for summer vacation and my dad told everyone he ran into "these are my three daughters". We got some strange looks in PEI...

And I've benefited from their example, not just in the people I've taken in over the years who needed a "mom/sister/aunt/cousin" they didn't have, and the joys that came with being that person to them, but also in the fact that I believe the Universe evens things out in the end.

I'm sure everyone is sick of hearing about Chris and his amazing family, but it's possible that the reason they have been there to step in as "family" for me, was something in the Universe thanking dad and mom for doing the same for others, and helping them out with someone they were worried about. But less worried about, once Chris and his family came along.

I believe it's true: we can make our own family. I have so many amazing people in my family, it feels selfish to want more, but the addition of Kyla and Jordan and Chris and Liz and so many others has just made a good thing that much better. And having people who live in visiting proximity makes a difference too. Love can be sent across the distance, but sometimes you need someone standing right in front of you, to give you a hug. Or a place to go home to on vacation.

Remember, rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof. :)