God must have a funny sense of humor, a little girl from Texas who wanted to grow-up and save all the animals, is now Mom and Nana to a herd of people, but not in the traditional family format.

Growing I thought family was always a husband and a wife, plus their children (if they have any). Today, however, our society displays greater diversity. There are several alternative family forms. They include but are not limited to: single parenthood, cohabitation, LGBT relationships, polygamy, and the extended family.

Laughingly my family does not fit the traditional definition of family or any of the alternate definitions of family forms.  If the definition of family was – a group of people with strong emotional attachments, my family would well defined.

Growing up I did not envision my grown-up life with a big family.  My family was a traditional family. My father had a strong opinion about family and a negative opinion of alternative lifestyles.  As I have grown in my faith and understanding of people, my vison of family changed.  Some additions to my bonded family, have caused me to question my beliefs.  Is it ok to have a grandchild born out of wedlock? Is it ok for a daughter to live with someone before marriage? Is an alternate life-style acceptable? Can you love someone who has been to prison? Is wanting the best for someone outside of your traditional family your responsibility?  The answer to all of these questions is – it is not my place to judge.

Each of these questions were answered by one single statement found in the Bible:  John 13:34-35 ³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”   There are multiple verses in the bible that instructs us to “love one another”?  That means – do not judge, do not dictate, do not set limits, do not half-way give of yourself and belongings. 

So what does my family look like?  The Big Man and I have six adult children (mine, his, and someone else’s), five perfect grandsons and three awesome little girls that call us Nana and Poppy.  Of course there are the spouses and significant others that come with the adult children, numbering four.  We have opened our home to others at different periods of time, including those without a home and those without a family. 

As I look around my den or dining room during the holidays I am reminded that as little girls we cannot imagine the dreams and blessing God has for us, we just think we know the plan.  When the noise level is so loud you can’t hear or the phone is ringing constantly because everyone is in everyone’s business, I realize that I am bonded to all the voices by love.  I am not to judge but to love, In Luke 12:48 “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” I have been given much – much more than a little girl from Texas could ever imagine. We are not a traditional family.  We are much, much, more, we are God’s Family, bonded by friendship and love, sharing a small corner of the world, in Northeast Arkansas.

Connie is a 50-something wife, mother, Nana, doggie mom, vegetarian, living in the small community of Blytheville, AR. located in the far Northeast corner of the State. She shares a home with her husband aka The Big Man, 14 rescue dogs and 7 chickens. Collectively they have six adult near-perfect children and five perfect grandboys, 1 sweet granddaughter, 2 god-daughters and 5 awesome granddogs.  Connie is a family nurse practitioner who runs a small clinic and manages a free health clinic (Great River Charitable Clinic). Her and the Big Man also own and operate Bed and Biscuit Boarding. Connie is an active member of the Blytheville Humane Society. Her Blog http://scrapbookwife.blogspot.com/ chronicles her journey to live a balance simple life making her little corner of the world a better place to live.