Since we are in the midst of holiday season, where family is the number one blessing in my heart, I thought I would share a poem that reminds me of how special my family truly is and how blessed I am to have such a large family. Family is the group of friends you have for life. They are tied to your heart no matter the pain you have been through or the mistakes you have made. Family will always be there for and with you. I wrote this poem in the perspective of my grandmother. You will see the meaning in the poem. I love you, my brother, Frank. I love all of my family regardless of any bumps in the road we have been through. Thank you grandma for supplying the central space all of the cousins would be able to play with one another. My grandma is the most heartfelt woman I have ever met, and I know she will appreciate this poem and I could just sense this is something she would think of writing.

Fourteen grandchildren

-From grandma’s view

Each of them holding a place in my heart

where I keep them close.

For I look at them and smile,

Seeing the reflections of my own children in their eyes

Each one adds something new

To their own unique personality

All of them are different

Yet they are the same

They share a unique bond and connection

That will always remain

One special boy named Frank

Frank Robert

Beaming with positive energy

Always the one spreading joy

One of the goofy boys

The one who kept us all together.

Always enjoyed eating and having fun,

Though now he does this in the clouds.

14 grandchildren

The bond of cousins as strong as magnets.

Treating each other as siblings,

Always with each other.

Enjoying family parties where they catch up and laugh,

Having sleepovers of fourteen whenever they got the chance.

The oldest being thirty

The youngest sixteen

Yet age holds no bearing

When it comes to blood.

When they lost one,

The magnetic bond still intact.

One is missing, yet he is still with them,

Flying above their heads.

Fourteen grandchildren

Thirteen grandchildren on earth.

One in heaven.

Fourteen grandchildren in my heart.