This recent Thanksgiving got me thinking about the definition of family. Several years ago one of my grandchildren had a family history school project. She corrected me on the charts we prepared together. She asked why we weren't including one aunt, one uncle, and one grandpa. They are certainly family but not relatives by blood. The aunt is a family friend, the uncle is my brother-in-law's brother, and Grandpa Bud is his father. Additionally, I have others who call me Mom or Grandma. The oldest granddaughter calls them my fake children and grandchildren. (Don't get upset, the term fake is used lovingly between us; that is a story for another time.) My children and now my grandchildren have always had many "relatives" that don't fit into the spaces in genealogy software or paper charts. This year's Thanksgiving celebrations were spent with many good people who are not blood relatives. I have some special genealogy families, too. Will future generations know who all these people are in my life and yours? Don't forget to include them as you document your family's history and add their names to pictures. Have you written the story of their connection to you? Maybe it is time.

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