Is Blood Thicker Than Water?

Blood is thicker than water. How many times have you heard this before? Basically it means that family relations are more important than relations with friends. I truly and strongly disagree with this. Family is important, don't get me wrong. I love ever person in my family no matter how often I get to see them or talk to them. So the biggest issue I have with this idiom is that some friends are like family. In no shape or form are these friends any less important to me.

As a child growing up I had "water" in my life that took the form of "blood." My grandma has a best friend who is still to this day a part of our lives. She is my aunt and she calls me her niece. My mom's best friend when my brother and I were young was also our aunt. I have been blessed with this now as an adult. I have had the same best friend for 15 years and because of that wonderful relationship, have an amazing nephew and niece that call me Aunt Lena. I've had this title for almost 8 years now! It was a wonderful day when each of them came along...one almost 8 years ago, one almost 6 years ago, and one almost 3 years ago. Each one of these three children are incredibly special to me. So whether they are referred to as "blood" and "water" it doesn't matter to me...to me they are family and I love each and ever one of them.