Going to the Shrine with My Favorite People... <3

My mom has six siblings. (They're seven in total, including her.) They don't have the best relationship, but she's especially close to her younger siblings. She has 3 younger siblings with whom she has a really good relationship, though unfortunately, my uncle passed away several years ago.

Now, it's just her and her two younger siblings. (They still have two older sisters, but they don't get along well that much. haha XD)

These two younger sisters are the mothers of my favorite younger cousins, Nicole and Godwyn. We tend to celebrate special events together, regardless of distance.

Since we moved to the countryside, we usually get the chance to meet up with Nicole and her mom. However, Godwyn and his mom are now even further away. Nicole and I surprised him during his moving up ceremony last month, though.

Then last week, it was my father's birthday. They couldn't come on the day, but they visited us for the first time here in the countryside the day after! And since all sisters are present, we decided to go to the shrine together. My father was left at home and at the store. haha

Here's my mom and her two younger siblings. :)

Me with my younger cousins, Godwyn and Nicole.

I'm an only child, and so are they. So somehow, we treat each other as siblings. It's interesting how our age gap doesn't really matter. I'm in my mid-30s, Nicole's in her 20s, and Godwyn is turning 16 in July. Despite that, we share the same interests, and we are on the same wavelength.

Godwyn and his mom...

Nicole and her mom...

My mom and I...

Having them in my life is such a bliss. No matter the trials and challenges we face in life, we are aware that we're not alone because we have each other's backs.

When my family and I lost our house due to the flood last year, my aunts and my cousins immediately visited us in our temporary place, bought us some groceries and clothes, and helped us in any way they could.

I am indeed blessed to have these people in my life. We're together through thick and thin, and of course, with God and our faith in the center of it all.

I look forward to spending time with them again soon. That's it for this post. Thanks for checking, and I'll see you around! (^^,)/