There’s an old saying: You can’t pick your family. Sure, you can’t pick most of your family but you create your own branch of the tree when you pick a spouse.

I chose the person I want to snuggle close with on a cold night; to laugh with; to cry with; to spend the rest of my life with. I picked the person whom I trust beyond all other. I picked the person who will stand by me no matter what. I picked someone to not only be my best friend but my family as well. I’m proud I got the opportunity to grow a friendship, a romance and a life together with my husband. I’m proud I’ve started a family together with him. It may just be he and I now, someday we might add to it, but there will come a time that it’s just he and I again.

There may be family you can’t pick and you need to love and respect them for who they are, but don’t let anyone tell you can’t pick the most important family you’ll ever have.