A wonderful weekend

This weekend I returned to a place that I hold mixed feelings about. I returned to a place where I have managed to forget alot of things. I returned to a place that I used to call home. I went to surprise a young man by the name of Dustin I used to babysit. I started babysitting him when he was 5 and he is now 15. He is a sophomore in high school and a very talented musician with his own band. His band was playing at the fair this weekend and I had told him I would come watch him play at some point. So, a couple of weeks ago while I was texting him and his mom I came up with the idea to surprise him and show up at the show. My sister, Samantha, went with me and we arrived at the house after midnight on Friday. It took us more than 6 hours to get there when it should have taken us 5 at the most. But we got there and the surprise played out perfectly. After talking til 3 am we all went to bed and then met up again at the fair yesterday afternoon. We spent the day talking and catching up on life. Watching Rob (Dustin's dad) in the skid-steer-loader competition (it was way exciting and legit!). And then watching Dustin's band, Feedback, perform. I was so impressed with Dustin and his musical talent. I smiled the entire time. Then this morning we went to church with Rob, Linda and Dustin and then out to lunch before Samantha and I came back to school. It was a whirlwind of a weekend. But one I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

Rob, Linda, Dustin and their daughter Becca who just recently started college are what I consider my second family. They are a family that I love dearly and regret having missed so much in the last 8 years due to life. But have decided I am going to do my best to turn that around. Dustin and I talked tonight after I got back to campus and we were chatting on skype. And he asked me why they were/are so special to me. And I thought for a minute before answering his question. As I sat at my desk contemplating how to tell a 15 year old why his family is so important to me, I began to cry. I finally composed myself so I could respond (keep in mind this was all in a matter of seconds). And I told him that his family was so special to me because (and this is re-worded a bit from what I said to him) at a time when life was crashing down around me his family took me in in a way, loved on me and showed me what faith was and what it could be. His family in a way saved me at a time when I needed it most. And that's why they are so special to me. It took him by surprise but I think it helped him to better understand.

This weekend as I sat and remembered back to the days of living in that town I was overwhelmed by all of the good things and the bad things. It was hard because I was face to face again with my past. In more ways than one. But it was a weekend that I would never trade for anything in the world. And it is a weekend that has made me smile so much today that I can't even contain it as I sit and type. So... for my biological, first family (the Holley's)... I love you guys and can't imagine doing life with anyone else. And for my non-biological, second family (the Wanless')... I love you guys and can't imagine life without you. I love you and thank God every day for the presence and role you have played and will play in my life.