Family has always been important to me. I grew up in a small town in South Louisiana that prides itself on many things, and that includes keeping your family close. For my entire life, it was normal to see nearly every member each week, considering we live within a 10-mile radius of each other. Recently someone brought to my attention just how blessed I was. They told me, "You are the luckiest girl in the world to have the family you have. Not everyone is so blessed." This got me thinking about how sometimes I take the most precious gift God has given me for granted. I could not imagine who I would be without those Sunday dinners, the house being filled with loud screaming kids for nearly every holiday, and the support of nearly 30 people with every adventure I embark on. I've always known I was blessed, but recently I've been thanking God twice for you guys.

Dear Family,

As I sit here on Easter morning, I can't help but just take it all in. Lunch just finished and we are all completely stuffed and looking for a place to sit because everyone else has taken our favorite spot on the couch. Grandpa just yelled upstairs in the playroom because the kids kept stomping while they were screaming, and there is no doubt an argument is in the near future. The older granddaughters are strategically hiding out because we know within the next few minutes they are going to call our names to do the dishes, again. Mark my words, within about 5 minutes of doing the dishes someone is going to wet the end of a towel, twist it up, pick an unsuspecting victim, and begin a war that is slowly going to get participants until no one is left to dry dishes. Granny is sure to end the war by telling everyone to stop, but only after she took a few swings herself. There might be some form of a softball game happening outside, but without fail, the competitive nature in all of us will come out and the game will end because someone quits. I promise, this happens every time. We'll sit, drink coffee, eat dessert, catch up, laugh, and then go on our merry ways some hours later when the sun has long since disappeared. This is why I am blessed to have this family. Any holiday that comes around, I know I get to look forward to all of this and more. Because of my family, I am blessed.

For my entire life, you all have played the biggest role in shaping me into the woman I am today. I have the most amazing grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings, and cousins. You each have left an impact on me and I could not be more thankful. I have stories I could tell about our adventures together, but when it comes down to it, they all come down to one thing: love. We may argue hard, but we love harder. At the end of the day I know how blessed I am because of the unconditional love you all show me. I could not be more blessed to be a part of a group of people tied together by love. Because of my family, I know how to love people unconditionally.

Another thing that you all need to be thanked for is your support. No matter what dream I, or any other member, set out to achieve I knew that I had all of you supporting me and cheering me on. That is one of the things that sets this family apart. No matter what you are doing, you have nearly 30 people in your corner cheering you on. In this family you can expect to not only have the support of everyone, but to have the largest cheering section for whatever dream you are trying to achieve. Because of my family, I know what it is like to never feel alone.

My family also holds some of my best friends. I have aunts and uncles who I can call when I need advice or a person to talk to. I have parents and siblings who are my rocks and get me through each passing day. I have cousins who are not just cousins, but rather best friends. I mean what is greater than a best friend who gets to spend every single holiday with you? I have grandparents who brighten my days and tell me the greatest stories. When I make friends, I find myself comparing them to my family. Can they treat me the way you all do? Can they help me become my greatest self? Because of my family, I am picky about who I allow to enter my life because y'all have set such a high standard.

I could go on for days and days about why you all mean so much to me. I could not have hand picked a better family to be apart of and I owe much of who I am today to all of you. I know I don't say it nearly enough but, thank you. Thank you for being you. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for setting my standards so high. Thank you for believing in me when I couldn't believe in myself. I know I will never venture far from my small hometown, but know that my life has been so affected by you all. Because of my family, I thank God twice for this life of mine.

Over the years things have changed. We have gotten older, and have begun to do amazing things in our life. The grand kids have grown up and are starting to make a place in their world. Our family has endured some hard times, but have also found 100 more reasons to be happy. Each year brings new challenges and new opportunities. I know things will never be the same as this exact Easter, but that is what makes this family so remarkable. No matter where we are in life, no matter where we find ourselves there is always going to be one thing that ties us all together: family. Because of my family, I will always have a home.

I love you all unconditionally,

Hailee