on a backpacking trip through europe with my friend, i bought five baseball caps that proudly read, "i love milano". i realize today that i could have bought 100 of those hats and outfitted only some of the members of family. well, now 8 years later, my dad still sports that hat around, reminding me and so many others why it is that we love "milano", or in our case, "family" so much!
according to a recent internet search, family is defined as: people descended from a common ancestor; people who provide a sense of belonging; those that give identity and provide support and security; the people you care about and the people who care about you.
this weekend marked the 10 year anniversary of my Milano family's reunions. my dad is the sixth of eight children from a beloved italian family. jerry, marianne, mickie, fran, john, joe, jim and frank sure have given their parents, gerard and ruth, a lot to be proud of (and a run for their money at times!) their family journey began in oak park, il and traveled to glen ellyn, il and now has expanded across the nation. the family of 10 quickly grew and expanded the idea of family to include what they like to refer to as "the outlaws" and the original 25 grandchildren. however, when asked how many first cousins i have on my dad's side, i quickly respond with, "about 50-ish". you see, now the term cousin has also grown to include spouses and cousin's children, creating an even larger and ever-changing milano family.
today, however, included all the milano family members previously mentioned, and more. cousins, and second-cousins, and great aunts and uncles brought a world of family all to one beautiful forest preserve in elk grove village. although we all expected there to be food, as food is an assumed addition to any italian function no matter the time, the sheer volume would have astounded most. there was also bocce ball and bags to play, hoola hooping to experiment with, blankets to relax upon, stories to share from each individual life represented, and of course pictures to capture every moment.
because of this weekend i understand "family" better. i have sat across the table from some beautiful people and learned a lot. it's amazing how someone who lives thousands of miles away and who you see at most once a year, can remind you so much of yourself. we have shared tears remembering those in our family who have passed on from this life. we have felt truly gut-wrenching laughter over something a crazy uncle/aunt has said. we have stayed up late playing games and sharing heartfelt conversations. i have seen firsthand why when god designed us in his likeness, he didn't plan for us to live separate or isolated lives. he placed us intentionally in to families. he put us in to families for better or for worse. yes, sometimes we can annoy each other and cause us to question how we can even be related. but we are still family. in his plan we are placed in to families for our own betterment. you see, i have experienced how being in a family can make you better. i am stretched to love more, give more and share more of myself with others. in this familial relationship we can find that security, care and common belonging that we were created to desire. without family, who would be there to share in the highs, the lows and the boring everydays of life? i recognize this is probably not everyone's reality, so it's with gratefulness and a joyful heart that i thank god for each of you that i call family. he has used you in my life in countless ways, we will never know them all. i love you family and have cherished every moment we have shared during this crazy journey. ps- picutures to come :)
