Family is everything, and I've never taken that for granted. I'm fortunate that I attend college where I have family just a few miles away from campus. Sometimes, you want just want something familiar to you, especially being away from home for a while. That is the comfort that family brings. My cousin Danielle is one of my best friends, and I've always been close to her. After all, we're only one year apart from each other. For parties and family reunions, we were inseparable.

When I was younger, I didn't see her as often as I would have liked to because her family moved around pretty often due to my uncle's career. The times she did come to visit, however, I took advantage of it by laying out a bunch of pillows and blankets for sleepovers. We would stay up late having our "girl chats." Typical me, I was always the first one to fall asleep. It was always sad when it was time for her to leave because I was the only child for seven years before my sister was born. Danielle was like my sister, and it broke my heart every time she left to go back home.

Danielle's family eventually relocated to Mobile, Alabama, and they've been living there for ten years now. I am fortunate to finally live in the same city as Danielle since I attend Spring Hill College. It's fun having family close-by because it's a great opportunity to just leave campus for a while, explore the city, and catch up with family. Danielle has a pretty big family: she is one of four. She has a twin brother named James and two older sisters, Jenny and Lindsay.

It's funny because Jenny lives four houses down from Danielle's house. Jenny also has two boys. I love going to their house to help Danielle babysit on a Friday night. I also love going to Danielle's house because I get a break from the cafeteria food and get a nice, home-cooked meal. You really miss meals like that when you're away from home. It's nice when you can sleep in a bed other than a Twin XL and actually sit on a couch instead of a wooden chair by a desk. It's the little things that you miss at times while being away for college. I'm thankful to my family in Mobile who is always there for me. I love you guys!