My Family Fantastic

Creating Experiences That Help Relationships Thrive

Author: Simone (Page 16 of 21)

The Text Message

March 3, 2013 / / 0 Comments

The text message read: “Family, Conference call tonight at 8:30 p.m. Please call in.”

 My heart sank, and I felt uneasy. I knew it was going to be bad news.

This brother had NEVER set up a conference call before…so it could only be bad news. At the end of the conference call the news had been revealed: He was going to be a dad in March.

He is my third brother and the most gentle and kind of them all. In a house of ten, he usually waits to eat last.  He laughs a lot and loves to dance. And my friends describe him as approachable, even though he is 6 feet 8 inches tall. He is two months away from college graduation, and had plans to play basketball overseas. He has no career. No money and no way of supporting a child.

I have grappled with this bad news for weeks. At first, I was livid. How could he be so foolish? How could he shame our family like this? Second, I was sad. Because this is not how I envisioned my brother’s life going. I had hoped he would graduate, go overseas, play basketball, make a lot of money, come back to the United States, get married, start a family, and be the bestest and coolest middle school history teacher ever.

I know that sounds crazy…you can’t plan someone else’s life.

But, I realized something today. I have plans for all of my siblings lives. Not detailed plans, but hopes for them. I want them to excel and do well in life. I want one of my sisters  to be the best women’s basketball player ever and I want my other sister to achieve her dream of being an architect. I want my first brother to have a job that he loves and make a lot of money, I want my second brother to be an award-winning broadcast journalist, I want my fourth brother to finish school, focus, and find out his purpose in life, and I want my fifth brother to graduate from high school and play division I basketball and not talk to girls so much for the fear that he’ll end up like my third brother.

My third brother has started a family, and his son will be he in a few weeks. And, I am proud of the strength and courage he has exhibited. He wants the baby to live with him, and he is seeking custody. He is more focused and determined than I have ever seen him. He is working on the weekends, he is on the track team, studying in the early mornings and late at night, and attending classes during the day.

The arrival of my new nephew is quickly approaching. Even though, he wasn’t in my plan for my brother’s life…I take comfort in knowing that God’s plan for my brother’s life is much better than mine.   My hope now is to be a loving aunt and supportive sister.

My Nephew’s First Snow

February 20, 2013 / / 2 Comments
My nephew is a year and half and lives about 700 miles away. I don’t get to see him often, but his mother is wonderful about sharing special moments with long-distance family. Every couple of weeks she sends pictures and videos to us. I think this video perfectly captures my nephew’s personality.

Back 2 Basics

February 10, 2013 / / 0 Comments

I realized something a few months ago. This blog has been all over the place Japan, Jury Duty, Goals, etc. The original intent of this blog was to introduce me, my family, and our antics. I have introduced Michaela (one of my two sisters), Issachar (one of my five brothers), and my Dad. However, I think this blog has disproportionately been about me and Phillip.

So, in an effort to get back to basics, I will continue with the introductions of my family members for the next few postings. 

# 34

February 2, 2013 / / 0 Comments
My little brother, Issachar, is not so little anymore. Despite the fact that he is 15, he is 6’1” tall. Thankfully, even though he is a teenager, he is still a sweet heart.
 
I talked to him last week, and learned that my parents are really loosening the reigns in their old age. He is only 15, but he is allowed to talk to girls on the phone to discuss “homework”. That type of behavior definitely would not have been tolerated with the 90’s version of my parents.
 
Never the less, I am very proud of my little brother. He is on track to be admitted to the Honor Society next year and he plays basketball.  Here is a brief video of him, number 34. My mom and dad can be heard yelling in the background.

 

Inauguration 2013

January 27, 2013 / / 0 Comments
Morris and I had different ideas of how to celebrate Inauguration. I wanted to celebrate on the couch by watching the inaugural festivities on the television. But, Morris wanted to be out in the thick of things with the crowds and the cold.
 
So, we comprised. 

Morris’ dad came into town, and they went to inauguration. I went to the suburbs for the weekend, and watched inauguration on television. And, a good time was had by all. 
The Capitol Pre-Inauguration
This Band was filmed in the movie Lincoln

Presidential Impersonators (Right to Left): Lincoln, Roosevelt, Jefferson, and Washington. 

Inauguration 2013

2013 Goals

January 13, 2013 / / 0 Comments

I like to begin the year by setting new goals. I set my goals based on the person I hope to become. For example, I hope to be a good wife and one of my goals is to play a sport with Phillip. I also want to win a Pulitzer Prize and two of my goals involve writing. I like to think of each year as a step toward living an extraordinary life.

2013 Goals
1. Complete One Bible Study with Phillip
2. Post 52 Blog Entries this Year
3. Lose 4 Pounds
4. Play a Sport with Phillip
5. Write 2 Letters per Week
6. Publish a Paid Article
7. Write 50,000 words
 

However, there seems to be a trend that is down on goal setting/new year’s resolutions. After talking with a few friends, the sentiment seems to be that setting goals is setting yourself up for disappointment.
 

But, I disagree. A goal missed, is better than a goal never set. There are lessons to be learned in goal setting. I set a goal to have two hundred blog followers last year. I failed. This year, my goal is to post 52 blog entries. 
 

I learned that I have to set goals based on my input, not an expected output. 

So, if you are reading this blog perhaps we can help each other. If you are anti-new year’s resolutions, perhaps you can help me see the folly in my logic. If you are pro-new year’s resolutions, perhaps we can help keep each other on task. 
 
What’d ya say?

Good Riddance Sallie Mae

January 4, 2013 / / 0 Comments

Last week, Morris and I made my last student loan payment. And then, we had a dance party! Paying off that debt is the realization of a dream for me, because the $43,807.49 I owed Sallie Mae seemed insurmountable four years ago. But now, that mountain is behind me.

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