My favorite memory.

A Team of One

Love is uniquely the foundation of what we treasure.  With this special bond of love we have helped one another grow stronger in spirit, mind, and health.  It has been an imperfect adventure where we have had to search and find different elements and characteristics to bring to the team.  We are all different in our own ways, which makes things extremely interesting.  Brick by brick, stone by stone, we as a family have created together a home.  Although we all currently do not live inside the walls of this home, we know that it is filled with safety, comfort, and adoration.  We are best friends.  We are the Hemsley’s.

Families are the best.  It is so fun to be a part of a small group that can have fun and do crazy things together.  I am so lucky to have the five humans that I was able to grow up with for over the past 21 years.  Each one is so closely involved in my life for different reasons.  Many special experiences have arisen along our journey together that have shaped us into the group and individuals we are today.

            I have always treasured a certain moment in time with my loved ones that has been very important and memorable to me.  It was a time when I had been away for quite sometime with very little communication or contact with my family.  I distinctly remember stepping off the plane and racing to find them in the Salt Lake City Airport.  Tears filled my eyes and adrenalin and nervousness pumped through my veins.  I had not been in the arms of a family member for an extreme amount of time.  It was as if I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be a part of such a special group who was so willing to give hugs, kisses, and words of encouragement. 

As I finally turned the corner and saw my Mother standing there with her arms stretched out and large drops of tears running down her cheeks, I lost my composure and fell into her arms and wept.  As I buried my head deep into her shoulder I felt the warmth and love of others surround me.  I heard familiar voices and laughs that seemed so far away the day before, but yet so very close in the moment.

This day I realized how special my family really was to me.  I knew that I did not want to spend another day without each one of them.  Feeling apart of such a unit and team known as a family makes me feel on top of the world and gives me a sense of belonging to something great.  I love my life and the people in it and would not change it for the world.