We are Family.. My Brother and My Sister and ME!
Ok start humming “We are Family” by the Pointer Sisters. I can’t help myself and for only just a moment I am truly sorry! If there was a song to describe Summer 2013 it would be this one and a blast from the past as they say!
It all started with me doing what I am sure all Big sisters do, which is to open their homes up to their siblings in need. My sister decided after much trepidation and planning, to move to Sugarland. Many things needed to come together to make her transition work and I knew I would be a key player in smoothing things and assisting her in this life change. What I had not quite expected was to also host our brother, his wife and their two children as well…
By mid June Brian and I found ourselves at the helm of a family ship so to speak, with exactly 6 adults and 6 children under our care. And although it seemed a little overwhelming at times and a little crazy too; it proved to be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my siblings in a way that never could have happened any other way.
I mean, really; let’s be serious. At no point in the past 20 something years had Brian and I had more than a few days at best with “family.” This was not done necessarily on purpose but actually just happened since we moved to Texas and they stayed in North Carolina.
The dependence that coming into our home placed on them proved to be both a great chance to connect as well as a hornet’s nest to erupt from childhoods past experiences. Walter thought for a few moments that he would be “in charge”…. then Elizabeth felt the need to remind all of us about days from our childhood…. You know… how I was always so bossy… blah blah blah… I then reminded the two of them of who was the boss, after all who’s house had they moved into? Ahem….. Unfortunately the first few weeks were a little painful, mainly because those two refused to “get it” the first time!
Then came the pecking order of the cousins with two at 15, three at 10 and one, bless his heart, at a mere 6! You should have seen us at church….taking up an entire pew! It was both overwhelming and fabulous and secretly I loved every minute of it!
By the end of July, Elizabeth had been hired, her children were starting to get accustomed to a new way of life and our brother despite all of our efforts never found a job. He and his wife packed up and headed back to North Carolina in the hopes of finding work there.
Summer of 2013 was one to go down in history. We did not spend tons of time and money away at specialty camps, or traveling. My siblings and I spent quality time actually reconnecting to each other and learning who each of us had become as adults. It was wonderful!
The picture I have included is taken in front of our new seaside studio in Galveston. We spent many weekends there over the summer and over the 4th of July I grabbed a ton of clothes and gave everyone something to wear. Ever since we had gotten the place there had never been a great time to get that “perfect” family shot for over the sofa. After waiting for over a year, I knew in an instant why that shot had never happened! Over that weekend, all of my hopes to capture something amazing came to fruition. It was a God wink for sure as all of us in one moment stood together and Elahe was able to get the perfect shot! There were group shots too and in less than 20 minutes we had captured the most amazing images. The one of me and Elizabeth and Walter I am especially fond of. The picture of me at my wedding compared shows just how much we have, despite any of us realizing it, aged and grown into adults!
LIfe happens so fast! None of us realize that until we stop and take time to reflect. I am thankful for having had summer of 2013! It was filled with many God winks! I am also grateful for my siblings and the moments we have shared. Pictures are obviously very very important to me. These images we captured I will cherish for the rest of my life!
Happy Thanksgiving & of course
