Family is a cornerstone of where we come from, a crucial part of who we are, and often a foreshadowing of who we are to become. When I tell people that I have a big family, they usually give some kind of Brady Bunch-ish description of what they picture my family to be like. Boy, are they off.

I have a double-digit amount of cousins, a grandmother who can out-bake Betty Crocker, uncles to watch sports with on Thanksgiving, and aunts to turn to when mama says "no." After hearing the amount of people that I'm related to and some of the stories that we have, I usually get looks that are somewhere between concerned and sympathetic. I usually feel sorry for people that don't understand why "the bigger, the better" really comes to life through a big family.

1. Cousins.

Need I even say anything else? Cousins are, by far, the best part about having a big family. You have people that are obligated to be your friends from birth and stick with you for… pretty much your whole life. You can have countless play dates because your parents can't use the "overstay your welcome" excuse to make you come home. It's the closest to siblings that you can get without having to see them every single day or share your clothes, but you still have the benefit of beating each other up and it not causing World War 3 because it's just a domestic dispute. My favorite part about having cousins is that there's always somebody who understands your cringing or telepathic messages at family Christmases. You share the best memories of all because you spent years at the kids table and binge watching Disney movies together in Grammy's living room together why the adults did… whatever adult things they did.

2. Support system.

I don't think that I have ever performed in a dance recital, participated in a spelling bee, or been presented where the only family I had in the audience were my parents and siblings. My parents were the ones who brought an extra coat or bag just to save a few extra seats because my Grammy and Poppy were sure to be there and usually an aunt or two. There is a constant outpouring of encouragement and people who are unconditionally proud and cheering for you in whatever you choose to do, whether you're good at it or not. Having in the back of your mind that you have 35+ people supporting you from down the street, across the state, or on the opposite coast really gives an extra surge of motivation for everything you do.

3. So many teachers.

This one is relatively self-explanatory. There are just so many people that come before you, and let's be honest, there is no wisdom like a grandparent's. With a big family, though, you get different kinds of wisdom. The aunts give you logic, uncles explain why you shouldn't care too much, your cousins are right there with you so their using you as a trial/error experiment for their advice, but your mom is usually right. The point is, there's always somebody, or a few somebodys, to teach you and lead you by example.

4. Why you are the way you are.

I can't even begin to tell you how many times that I have been amongst my family, and just thought

So that's where I get that from…

Everything from biting sarcasm, being too sensitive, laughing too loud, or being really huggy - I have a tangible excuse for every characteristic that I have inherited. It's really cool to see a family so big, where most of us don't even see each other but a few times a year, are a part of each other in some quirky way. You see every part of where you come from without having to sign up for Ancestry.com.

5. Somebody is always on your team.

This might sound a lot like #2, but the supporting family that will bring flowers to a recital or block the back row for a good picture is a far different group of people than the ones who will suit up in your defense. Hell hath no fury like the family of one scorned. I used to love telling my mom about mean girls and it wouldn't be 2 hours later that I would have a Facebook message from my cousins or aunts

"Hey girl. Talked to your momma today. Who's messin' with you baby? Who we gotta get for you?"

I grew up with 2 older sisters and 2 younger sisters, so I have been protected and protector for as long as I can remember and I thought that was a team. But as I grew older and my problems got bigger, I learned that my family could go from Christmas card to mafia (almost intimidatingly) fast.

6. You'll never be alone... ever.

Life can be taxing. It's full of ups and downs and good times and bad. It is one thing to have friends that are there here and there and people always want to be there when you're at your peak but with a big family, there's always somebody to lean on and to be strong for you. It's a cycle of providing support to who needs to be brought up and the same will be done for you. When my Poppy died, I remember processing into the church with my cousins on either side of me and we held hands, cried together. It was the longest family procession of any funeral in the history of forever, I'm sure, but there was a kind of pride in me. Poppy, look how many of us love you. Look how many people you brought into this world. Look at this huge legacy you've left behind. The adults that had dedicated their lives to our growth, happiness, and needs finally needed us and it was so beautiful to my big, beautiful, family come together to remember, laugh, cry, talk, and cry some more. This wasn't just a crazy holiday or some party. This was a vulnerable time for all of us when I truly saw that not only did I love these people, but I needed them and sometimes, they needed me too. I realized then that I would never have to go through anything in this life alone, because I will always have somebody to turn to.

I wish that I could say that that my family was perfect, but we aren't. We have our fights and our disagreements but at the end of the day, we love each other more than we did the day before. These are the people that molded me, and the people that I never have to worry about losing and I am just extra blessed because there are so many of them.

and this isn't even half of us...