Welcome back. Most people talk about the bloggernacle as a community, but I really see us as a large, rather dysfunctional family. We lost one of our own over the past couple of days. LisaB, I almost never read your posts, but always meant to. It is probably symbolic that beijing and I, who almost never agree about anything, agree that you will be missed. You have been compassionate, intelligent, and funny. Thanks for hanging out; you’re always welcome here.

The Ridiculous:

Having said that we are a family, we are a pretty insular one. This has been an interesting week for navel-gazing. Or self-promotion. Davis Bell is certain to be grossed out.

One thing I can say, at least we all know our ancestry and how it has led us to be “pure and delightsome“.

Today I would rather focus our family on the Sublime:

Rosalynde, at T&S, allows us to join her in a sublime family moment. As does Carrie at TftC. (Lisa, of course, gives us a disturbing one at FMH)

Jana, at Exponent II, writes about how an internet family helped her.

Stephen ponders the meaning of his family and DKL ponders divine involvement in human affairs.

And Guy ponders the realities of TV and polygamous families at his blog.

So, please remember to be good to your family, because they’re all you’ve got in the end. A message brought to you by…