The Ever Changing Challenging Year Continues...

I can't believe it's been once again, so long since my last blog. Finding the time seems to always be the problem. I can't believe that summer is just about over and we've hardly had weather that you could consider summer in our area. It has definitely helped to change the feel of these past few months.

It has been a very challenging couple of years for some very close family members. My sister and her husband have had to deal with job layoffs and have been able to manage. The great news is that my sister took a fabulous job offer that started this past week. I think it's going to be a good opportunity for her and help to give them some stability in such crazy economic times...I'm happy that they have some glimmer of hope and that things really are looking up for them.

My brother seems to be dealt one misfortune after another and I know and have always believed that God will only give us as much as we can handle. But seriously, it's getting to the point that I'm wondering if this is true. Financially, things are just plain sucky and its looking like he's going to have to sell the house he built from scratch with our father. This house has a huge sentimental attachment because of the bond that it helped form between my brother & father, just a few years before our father passed away. In fact, when my brother was building the house and had to get his address, the city gave him three options (729, 735, 739) and he chose 735, he didn't really care what number, he just wanted an address. Well my father thought he was so stupid for not picking 729, my brother's birthday. For years, my brother got kidded about that. Well, two weeks after our father passed away, we had received dad's address at the cemetery and I immediately called my brother to let him know dad's new address was 735. Isn't that chilling? God does work in mysterious ways- that is for sure!

I know my brother has had the attitude that he wanted to save this house at all costs, but it just simply is not an option anymore. The mortgage is way out of reach and we can thank an ex-wife and divorce situation for most of that, add in the economy of the past couple of years. Funny thing when my brother met his ex-wife, my dad warned him and said "don't ever trust her with your house"...but after they had their first son, by advice of his financial adviser he added her to the title. Of course, he thought they would be married forever ~ unfortunately, he has learned more than the hard way that it wasn't meant to be. It saddens me that my brother has to deal with yet one more blow, but on the other side of things, he just keeps rolling with the punches.

I worry about him and how many punches can he possibly roll with? The family has helped as much as we can and it's just not something we can help with- unless we were to win the lottery. Seriously. I will say that I am proud of him- even facing this horrible situation, he is trying to make positive plans for the future. Trying to sell the house before the bank gets to, so he can at least save his interests and walk away with some equity and hopefully enough to be able to buy some land, get a construction loan and build a new house for himself and two sons to live in. How about that full circle? He will now pass down the legacy that was started with him and our father "building a house together"- to now have the opportunity to build a house with his sons. The boys are kind of excited about this prospect and I'm proud of them too. They have not had an easy life and it really sickens me that they have had to deal with such crap in their young lives.

To be part of a divorced family has got to really stink. But add to that a mother who leaves your father, takes one of you and leaves your brother with your father. What message does that send to both sons? Then two years later when the divorce is settled, she moves away and tells the son living with her- you can move with me and my boyfriend, change schools, etc. or you can move in with your dad and stay in the same school, etc. What kind of a mother does that? I seriously don't get it and here we are five years later and I'm still perplexed and pissed off at her! I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get rid of these feelings towards her. Both boys have had to grow up so much sooner than they should have and help to run the house, help to run their father's business and they are champs!

Last weekend we had my 17 year old nephew's birthday party and my brother just "lost it" with the family- he needed to let off the steam and we all understood- but reality really had set in- he came to realize that it was probably the last time he was going to entertain the family in that house. It was very saddening and I don't think I've been the same since. My heart aches for him and the boys. The fear of the unknown, the fear of the change, the fear of having to uproot and move.

I keep wondering, when will things start looking up for him. I really try to believe that it's gotta be soon, it's been way too long. So tonight and every night, I will continue to pray for him and his two wonderful sons. I fear it's going to get a lot tougher before it gets easier.

Meanwhile, I don't think I have anything to complain about- my worries, concerns are all so tiny compared to what others have to deal with.