I didn’t have time to cook this weekend. I originally wanted to cook this awesome guacamole plated as palu (throw up) coming from a jack-o-lantern. It was supposed to be for Bunco, which was tonight. Every last Saturday of the month. I opted out (hope you ladies had fun) for a weekend to spend with my mom. I definitely needed her this weekend.

Since there is no Kitchen Nightmares this week I wanted to post something about family. My family is the reason Kitchen Nightmares came into fruition so it was fitting after this weekend to pay homage.

This weekend was spent celebrating the birthday of the babies. RB3. Nia. RyRy. And Hoku. Since my mom lives four hours away she usually will bring presents for her grandkids around this time of year to celebrate all of their birthdays at once. It’s always fun. Lots of laughter, hugs, food and family. I got to see family I haven’t seen in ten years. Swam to get some of my kinks out. And stuffed myself with a lot of crab. After such a rough week, it was great to be.

I think my family and I are pretty close knit. We have our ups and downs. We sometimes argue. Sometimes we say how stupid the other one is being. Other times we get big bear hugs from our brother as he lifts us off the ground. Or, we get bags full of frozen food to feed our family. Or even treated out to an all you can eat buffet of nearly twenty people. No matter the circumstances, we love each other.

David Willis said that “family isn’t defined only by last name or by blood. It’s defined by commitment and by love. It is about showing up when they need it most. It means having each other’s backs. It means choosing to love each other even on those days you struggle to like each other. It means never giving up on each other.”

And that is my family. The love we have for each other bridges all of our differences. While our blood is what binds us, our commitment and need for each other to be happy, is what keeps us connected. And, it can’t be more evident than it was this weekend. My family, knowing the health issues standing in front of me, took my hand and made me feel normal in the midst of such uncertainty. We gathered this weekend for the babies birthdays but, ended up gathering for so much more. And I’ve cherished every single moment of it.

The Baliguat Bloodline runs through these veins. And because of it I know, nothing means more than family. This weekend I am thankful. I am grateful. I am blessed. xoxo