If you grew up close to any of your cousins, consider yourself very lucky because not everyone has that opportunity. Cousins are God's way of saying "you'll always have someone who has your back". Cousins do things for us that most people wouldn't do, they care for us more than anybody can, they put up with all of our baggage and they understand us better than most people can. There's an unlimited amount of reasons we can thank our cousins for and these are just a few.
Thank you for...
1. Making the family reunions and family gatherings more fun than imaginable.
2. Being there for the big and exciting moments in each others lives.
3. Making it impossible to go through school without hearing "hey are you related to such and such?"
4. Believing in me even when I couldn't and always being proud of me.
5. All the hand-me-downs traded among us and for always letting me borrow your clothes.
6. Not making a big deal when we don't stay in contact 24/7 and always picking right back up where we left off.
7. Being so accepting of a new significant other. That is after you grilled them and embarrassed the heck out of me.
8. Understanding that I'm always going to be the favorite grandchild.
9. Laughing at the fact that we take up half the restaurant when we go out to eat.
10. Loving me through all my awkward years.
11. Always telling me the truth, even if it wasn't easy.
12. Being the first to back me up or defend me.
13. Appreciating and understanding that our Grandma makes the best food. (The famous Grammy tea & fudge to be specific for my family).
14. All the backyard sporting events or game nights that usually turned a bit too competitive.
15. Hugs that fixed everything.
16. Being there for me in the worst of times, the ones that only family can truly understand.
17. Giving me someone to look up to and want to be like.
18. Running errands with me because I didn't want to go alone.
19. Taking a million photos until we get one where everyone is ACTUALLY looking at the camera.
20. Remaking all the hilariously embarrassing childhood photos that nobody wanted to resurface again.
21. The unforgettable vacations where we laughed someone probably peed themselves.
22. Being my first best friends that turned into lifetime ones.
Blessed would be one word to describe my personal experience with not only my cousins but their significant others who are slowly but surely becoming official members of the family. I wouldn't be half the person that I am without these incredible people in my life and I will never be able to fully thank them for that. I love you all so much!!!
