Family

Family according to Merriam Webster Dictionary is a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head. This definition is very vague and to me is not the true meaning. A family is so much more than a group of people living under one roof. But to be fair, I do not think that there is a perfect definition for the word because a family can be put into the category of just about anything. They are your support, the people that know you the best, the people that love you, and the people that are there for you.
In my immediate family I have my mom, dad, brother, and two dogs. My mom is a preschool teacher, my dad is an accountant, and my brother is a freshman at U of I. My two dogs are Echo and Fetlar. It has been different with my brother off to college, but when he comes home it is always fun.
On my mom's side I have three uncles and one aunt. For the most part they all live around here, but my aunt (who I am named after) lives in Arizona. I have six cousins and they live all around the country. All together they live in New York (soon to be Hawaii), Minnesota, and Springfield.
On my dad's side I have one aunt and she lives in Houston, Texas. My grandparents live in Springfield.
Overall, my family is very important to me. I love catching up with them and seeing them on the holiday. With all the years that we have spent together, there are bonds in a family that make it special. In today's society, I think that the importance of a family has been disgraced and disregarded as insignificant. In my opinion I think it is quite the opposite. The family influences so much about our lives and helps to shape who we are. No matter where you are or where you go, your family is something that you can count on. Family...irreplaceable.