If you ever find that person that you establish a relationship with that your other friends refer to "#BestFriendGoals," then you've gotten lucky, but if you get to the point where you have a relationship with their family, then you've hit the best friend jackpot, because, not only do you have an awesome best friend, you have a wonderful second family to go with.

In a nutshell, it starts out with knocking on the door and waiting for someone to answer. Then, you knock and walk in. Eventually, you get to the point where you just walk in because it's no surprise to anyone there that you would just show up.

First, you just hang out after school, then you start staying a few weekends. After a while, it's at least every other weekend, and all weekend, at that. Pretty soon you start getting invited to family functions, to go to her brother's cross-country meets or triathlon, and weekends at the cabin.

There are a few things that could suggest that you've become a part of their clan:

1. When your best friend has gotten upset with you on at least one occasion because there was a period of time that you were texting her mom more than her.

2. They send food back to college with you, and her dad says that you're "officially [his] kid because [he's] supporting you."

3. A two-hour car ride with her brother is just as easygoing as it would be with her.

4. Stopping by when you're home from college for the weekend, and she isn't, and it ends up taking you at least an hour to leave when your plan was just to stop for a quick chat.

I don't know about you, but I honestly don't know what I would do without my best friend and her family. I appreciate and love them all to no end. Thank you for allowing me to become a part of your family. This is for you. Thank you for everything that you have done and will do for me.