Another question in my mind is the role that Earth families play in the spirit world.  

Have we shared previous incarnations with these people perhaps?

Do we get to spend future incarnations with them or will we never ever see them again?

Love
Jammy :)

John claims we'll be together again...and he's dead, so he should know.

That said, I suspect there is absolutely no "across the board" answer...no reason folks over there should be any more homogenous than they are on this side.

Greetings,

I agree with Cricket that no one answer will fit all their situations.

Some may be in your family due to their connections with another family member from a lifetime you didn't share.
If your connection to someone seems pleasant and complete, then there is no urgency that you have to work out, so it might be awhile  (several lifetimes) before you see them again.
Many are probably from your 'Disc-family," the afterlife group that plans together and often incarnates together in various roles. So you can always meet there between lives and will recognize their souls without the physical appearance you know now.

Pretty neat plan, eh? :)

Bets

Just an echo to the above.

I've encountered people who planned to have a life together that had been interrupted by the plague or some such thing, and they took a few lifetimes to work it out.

Once in a while there's good reason that things didn't work out before - I recall one case where the guy had died of smallpox, so his bride tried to make it work out again in the present world. But his agenda included being a dangerous and abusive person, threatened her  life, beat her up, and hers included use of methamphetamine, plus several trips through the criminal justice system and rehab, which led to all manner of unpleasantness. However, they did succeed in geting back together as they had desired.

I get the impression that we have to watch out for what we wish for! ;-)

dave