Family... what defines it?

Webster's defines it as "a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head."  I think that this is the traditional definition of family, but I think that word encompasses so much more.  I bring this up because Christmas has come and gone yet again and it causes me to reflect on family and what that means to me.  

Obviously my husband and children are most definitely my family as well as my parents, in-laws, and extended families, but I think our family is so much bigger than that.  For me our family also includes are very select group of our closest friends.  These are the people that we know we can turn to when we need a shoulder to cry on, a last minute babysitter, or someone that we are completely comfortable to just have dinner with.  Sometimes I think that our friends are closer to family than our blood relatives are.  Your true friends don't judge you or hold childish grudges or expect you to be something you are not.  They accept you for you and love you no matter what.

So, to all of our "family" out there, we love you and cherish our times together!