How Do You Define "Family"

Dispite the lousy weather and getting lost on the way there, we had a good time at Indian Trails!
We arrived about two in the afternoon to find Abe and his son and one of his brothers putting up a tarp over the campsite. Jose took his truck and got there before me. The reason for that was, he got me lost following him, I finally decided to quit following him and try my own navigation skills.
Amber road with me and Ashley with Jose. We stopped at a gas station in Coal Valley and I asked directions to Colona. I knew how to get to the campgrounds from there. We actually didn't go thru Colona, but when I got to Green River I knew I was close. We finally found the campgrounds, checked in and went on to where Abe was camped. They told me that Jose and Abe's daughter went to look for me. I borrowed someones cell phone, as Jose had ours and called him to let him know that we were there. He was releaved to know I had made it there ok.
They proceeded to set up the giant wok and got to cookin'. Later on my brother showed up. He had called me for directions. I told him I was lucky to have gotten there myself and that he was on his own! I know that sounds mean, but I still hadn't recovered from Jose's getting me lost (and him, I might add) My brother made it there ok as he was only about 3 or 4 miles away. Altogether there were probably close to twenty people there. Abe's brother caught a huge catfish. He was so excited! We got some good pictures of him reeling in the fish. Abe's daughters each have baby girls. One is about 6 mos. old and the other 8mos. old. They are both so cute. Their greatgrandfather was there. He is from Mexico and is quite along in years. I got a picture of him holding one of the babies. I would love to tell of each and every one there but it would take too long.
You are probably wondering why I titled this post "How do you define family?" Well, its like this: I believe that family goes beyond brother, sister, mom and dad, aunts and uncles and so on. I define family as all the people in your life who are special in some way to you personally. Everyone that was at the campsite today was special to Jose and I in many ways. Abe and Jose came here from Mexico about the same time when they were very young. They are like brothers to each other. Abe knows Jose's family in Mexico and Jose knows his. Abe's daughters are like daughters to me. I've known them since they were very young and now they have daughters of their own. Guess what? I feel like Grandma to these babies and love them like they were my granddaughters.
We get together every year not just because its a birthday but because its a celebration of a family of good friends and its also a gathering of Abe's family. He is fortunate to have so many of his family here in the states. Most of Jose's family live in Mexico.
Its a good feeling to be around people who treat you like family and I believe that family defines a broad spectrum of people in our lives. Who do you consider to be your family.? I would hope that you would include more than just your siblings or your aunts, uncles and cousins. When you really give it some thought, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ....When we think of each other as brothers and sisters, we are never without family.