I have learned the hard way how friends are your family, and which friends are really your friend. It is no surprise that most people feel closer to their friends than family. However, don't miss out on your real family as well. In the small west txs town I was born in we had family. Real family love and support. We had such a big family that we would draw names to buy gifts for, no one could buy for all of us, so that made it affordable at my Grandmothers house.

Has I grew up so did everyone else. We had alot of marriages and jobs that took my family to all different places. Before I realized it my grandparents were very sick, the cancer and the emphazema took them. My mother was in a very abusive marriage and didnt get to be with them as they was so sick. So I went to live with them and take care of them. When they died my mother and her husband moved into the house and sold so much stuff there was almost nothing left in the house. I was okay with that I guess. And after years of abuse from her husband they would finally divorce. During this time of abuse my mother suffered a heart attack and was getting sicker by the day, oh did I mention she suffered a stroke when my human father left her with 2 kids to take care of, I was around 7 yrs old.

So as time continues slipping by me, I was soon taking care of my mother. I had been married and divorced by this time. And my daughter was with me as well. So I'm sure you can imagine the hardships we all faced at that time. My exhusband remained a good supply of nurture to my daughter, and eventually she moved in with him.
This was when I might have not been doing the right things all the time. And it was so hard to let her go. Just one year after the death of my mother I left that small west txs town, and have only been back to my mothers grave 5-6 times in all these years. My daughter did want to live with her dad, and he took me to court and got custody of her. She was 10 and she is now 19. She works 2 jobs and goes to college too. In other words, I hardly ever see her. So for the last 8+ years I have had only my friends with me. And if it weren't for them, I honestly beleive I would not be here today, or be as good as I am, which isn't good anyway.... So for those of you that have family don't keep them out of the loop of what you are doing. Friends come and go like the seasons change, so keep up the family side while you have them. And I beleive that God will put people in your life just as He did for me. For many reasons I know how important family is and how so precious friends can be. So if this helps only one person, give God the glory.