We have this quote on our wall. It has not always been my experience, that family will love you forever - or even at all... But this family - the family - meaning the group of people I'm choosing to label as my family and surround myself with - the family I'm creating - is teaching me what love is about.
Some of this "family" is who I'm actually related to by blood, and some are those I have chosen because they support me and refuse to abandon or mistreat me. I feel blessed and honored to be part of these relationships.
On the other hand, it's taking a little while to get used to the extended family that comes along with the immediate persons I love so deeply. I now have multiple sisters-in-law, one of whom is incredibly interested in my personal life, motivated purely by love and I find it frustrating and heartwarming simultaneously.
I have a mother-in-law whom I adore with my whole heart and who has welcomed me with open arms and who practically begs me to stay in her son's life at every opportunity. I question whether or not I deserve their devotion and approval. And it scares me how much I desire it now that I've gotten a taste of it.
Some of this "family" is who I'm actually related to by blood, and some are those I have chosen because they support me and refuse to abandon or mistreat me. I feel blessed and honored to be part of these relationships.
On the other hand, it's taking a little while to get used to the extended family that comes along with the immediate persons I love so deeply. I now have multiple sisters-in-law, one of whom is incredibly interested in my personal life, motivated purely by love and I find it frustrating and heartwarming simultaneously.
I have a mother-in-law whom I adore with my whole heart and who has welcomed me with open arms and who practically begs me to stay in her son's life at every opportunity. I question whether or not I deserve their devotion and approval. And it scares me how much I desire it now that I've gotten a taste of it.
My beautiful daughter, Chloe, graduated from high school last year. She'll be going to college pursuing a nursing degree through an accelerated program. She has been told her whole life she'd make a great nurse. I am so incredibly proud of her.
She is my heart. Every time I try to describe Chloe I find it difficult to find the words... She puts on a brave face, so strong and tough but underneath she is sensitive and intelligent and soft and tender. Part of the reason she makes herself so tough is that she feels things so deeply. She is an empath and can take on the feelings of those around her if she isn't careful so she has to protect herself from the influence that can have. I wonder about the toll that nursing will take on her, and if she'll be able to give her many gifts while still protecting her beautiful, precious, tender soul.
Nathan was working at SRP at the internship program for a few months and then began going to school at junior college as well, many days being gone for 18 hours a day and commuting 2 hours one way to work! It was a ridiculous schedule but he was so dedicated.
Until his brain turned against him.
For those of you who remember, Nathan suffered a serious concussion about 5 years ago following a bicycle accident - even though he was wearing his helmet, He's always been a devout proponent of helmets and safety. Since the accident, he has been doing well, with some pretty significant side effects, but he isn't letting anything hold him back.
When his schedule was taxing him physically and mentally, and he wasn't sleeping enough so he started really experiencing difficulties and ended up blacking up while driving and having two accidents. He has had to drop out of the programs and is working close to home so that he doesn't have to drive much and can have a more stable sleep schedule until he can follow up with doctors to get some answers.
He's struggling with memory issues and concentration as well as irritability - it's pretty textbook post-concussion syndrome. Poor Bug. I am soooo proud of how he is pushing through and showing just how grown up and mature he has become!
My Jillian - my Boog. She is still a brainiac and has found a gift for entrepreneurship during the pandemic. She began a side hustle of doing people's homework - mainly writing papers, but also taking some tests, all for a fee - and she had quite a complex breakdown of prices by the time COVID was over. $60 for an A, $50 for a B, etc... And she would only give grades that were appropriate to what a student would typically earn so that there wasn't anything suspicious. :) Such a smart cookie. Also, she didn't try to hide anything about her enterprise; one of my favorite things about my girls - both of them, is they still call me 'mommy'. I love my babies!
Jillian is learning to drive, close to getting her license, still doing her art - painting and drawing, and still planning to go into the medical field - the medical mental health field. Most days she talks about being a psychiatrist or a PNP. I couldn't be more proud of her - wherever she ends up. Jillian is also obsessed with our Cheweenie - Oliver - affectionately called "Tiny".
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