I recently went on spring break and had the opportunity to do something amazing. I stayed home for all of break except for the last Friday into Sunday. I flew down to Florida with seven of my cousins to surprise my grandparents on their 60th wedding anniversary and give them a gift they will never forget.

So as I said, my grandparents have been married for 60 years. WOW! They really are couple goals you guys, I'm not kidding. So, they met on a blind date and after dating for a while, they got pregnant with my mother. They were married at 19 in a court house and never really had a wedding of any kind, which my grandma has always said was her biggest regret in life.

After my grandparents talked about wanting to maybe have a party to celebrate their marriage, their friends from Florida, and my mom, my two aunts, and uncle decided it was time to give back to them in a unique way. Before they knew it, they were planning a surprise wedding/vow renewal.

My mother and her siblings always make the trip to Florida every march to spend time with their parents, so they were no surprise, but little by little, as the grandkids found out what was happening, we all decided we wanted to be there too.

Every week, a cousin would announce they took off work or school to fly down and the anticipation was building for months. Eventually everyone on my mom's side of the family but 4 of us could make it to the big surprise.

The plan was to fly in early Friday and stay with my uncle, who also lives in Florida, then surprise them at the party the next day. Saturday morning we went our grandparents' friends home to set up the wedding. Purple was everywhere, my grandma's favorite color, collages of them throughout the years were hung from every wall, and a beautiful ceremony was set up complete with a trail of white rose petals. It was perfect.

We all got ready for the party, and got to the house early to take our positions. Like I said, my grandparents knew there was going to be an anniversary party, but they didn't know certain people were coming, that the grandkids were coming, or that they were getting the wedding they had always wanted. It really felt like something out of a romantic comedy.

They came inside and were happy enough with everyone who showed up and the decorations, but they walked into another room and saw that 40 people who had originally told them they couldn't attend, showed up! Which, of course, made my grandma cry...a lot.

Then, one by one, my cousins and I walked in and hugged my grandparents to their amazement. There wasn't a dry eye at the party. Just when they think they can enjoy the party, my mom and her siblings whisked them away, and showed my pop his tux, and my Grandma her wedding dress.

My mom and aunts were bridesmaids, and my uncles were groomsmen. Their friends' daughter officiated and it was magical. Watching my grandma walk down the aisle and seeing the true happiness in her tears is a feeling I can't really explain

So they were "married" or, rather, renewed their vows, and the party went on all night. We drank and ate, what Italians are best at, and marveled at how beautiful their marriage was. My entire family and I were in the same place for the first time in a while.

My mom and her siblings gave a beautiful speech followed by words from both my grandma and pop pop. When your grandma says that this day was the best day of her life, and you watch your grandparents cut the cake and have their first dance together, it's bound to make you emotional right? RIGHT. I cried so freakin' much that night, all out of happiness, but a lot!

Moments like this, where you're dancing in the grass with your cousins side by side, singing old songs you used to scream at the top of your lungs, watching your aunts let loose and have a couple shots while laughing, seeing your grandparents the happiest they have ever been, it's just so special.

I have always valued my family, but I don't think I truly knew how important it was until this moment. My pop-pop was speaking at dinner and my cousins grabbed my hand while we all teared up. I don't know what they were thinking, but I couldn't help but cry because I couldn't imagine a world without my grandparents. Suddenly, I think, we all realized family is forever.

I had never felt so much love and support in one setting like that before and it was surreal to experience. Absorb the moments you get to share with your family, and never take them for granted. Call your parents more, make sure your sisters or bothers are doing well, do more with your grandparents, tell your aunts and uncles how much you love and appreciate them, hug your cousins.

Life isn't forever, but family is, so don't forget to appreciate them.