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I am happy to say my siblings and I have become close once again but life has changed so much in the last two years. My oldest brother, Patrick (who lives in Virginia) and I reconnected and began talking more and more via phone. My other brother, Brian and older sister, Joanie visit quite often and my younger sister lives with me so we are more like best friends then sisters. I never want to lose this closeness again. In June of 2006 my sister and I visited my brother in Virginia and had a nice time. We even looked at houses if we decided to move to Virginia when the family home was sold. We knew if the house was ever sold we would not be able to stay in NY. We needed to be able to go somewhere with all of our pets and no one would rent to us with our zoo so we kept our options open when we visited Patrick. Besides, we believed we had plenty of time to look for different options and different locations so we didn't worry about it. Well, we were wrong. In March of 2007, Patrick called and asked us to call a real estate agent to just get an idea of how much our family home would sell for. So I did what he said, and before I new it my brother told the real estate agent to go ahead and put the sign up on the lawn. He said, he found the perfect home for us to buy in Virginia and we are best to jump on it right away. He sent us a video of the home and it was a nice duplex. Since our family home was on the market we had no time to look elsewhere so we trusted Patrick and began preparing for the move. It's was a very difficult move since my family home was the only thing I knew but I decided I would make the best of it and start a whole new life. Like they say, you must take the memories with you and that's what I did. By May, the house was under contract so we did not have much time for anything. I packed up the whole house, we put all the furniture to the curb and by June we were headed to Virginia. We closed on the family home on June 19th, drove to Virginia the following day, and then closed on the home we bought on June 21st (mind you, we closed on this house site unseen). It's a nice duplex but it doesn't have any of the things I was looking for when we visited Patrick in 2006. At that time, I told him I wanted a duplex or a house with a finished basement and it must have a porch. Well, we didn't get a porch or a finished basement but we made the best of it. The property is huge but I had to put up a fence on one side because the surrounding houses are all apartments and they rent them to anyone. I must say I'm totally not happy about that situation but I figured the fence would help. The truth is, we would love to move back to NY but we know we are stuck here. Instead, I dream that in the future we could find a new home that Diane and I can pick out and move out of this area but I doubt that will ever happen. Diane and I are trying to make the best of the situation but we totally regret ever moving here. We both hate our jobs, we are not making nearly enough money to make ends meet and we have no one but each other to count on. To make matters worse we miss our family and friends back home so much. We have not made any friends here in this town and we've been here for over a year. Everyone tells us to go out and meet people which we would love to be able to do but alot of times it takes money to do that and we have no extra money to go out. We go out for walks with the dogs but even the neighbors all stay to themselves. As far as my family here---- when we first moved here we saw them often but now the novelty has worn off so we only see them occassionally. Back home in NY, we saw Brian and Joanie all the time so it hurts not having that anymore. My brother Patrick, gets upset if we don't stop by his house but he is always so busy that we don't know when he is available for a visit. We are still waiting on him to help us with some of the things that need to get done at our house but like I said, he is way to busy. At least my neice Maria stops by once in awhile with her beautiful daughter, Olivianna and I do work with her so I get to see her more then anyone else.
Diane and I, have learned not to share our feeling about this place with my brother and his wife because they tell us we are wrong and that it is the best move for us. They say, it will take at least 3 years before we like it and we will be able to enjoy our life's more here since we will have extra money in our pockets each week. I don't believe we will ever like it here and we know we will not have extra money in our pockets. The truth is Diane and I are struggling more now then we did in NY. The pay here is horrible so it's hard to make ends meet. We are both looking for better jobs but as of yet, we have not found anything. My brother and his wife believe we should take jobs that we do not like or are not qualified for just to make money. I'm sorry but I need to somewhat like what I'm doing to be able to get up each day and go to work. He told me I was an idiot because I will not do collections. For me, calling people that are in a bad way and requesting money from them is just something I can not do. For one thing I hate phones, and I have been in that situation myself with collectors calling me and they get quite nasty. I just don't have the personality for that and if that is what makes me an idiot, so be it. I guess another reason (besides Pat always being busy) Diane and I do not go to visit them is that they make alot of comments that are hurtful and belittle us.
Well like I said, our lives have changed quite a bit in the last two years and I guess by now, you all know how miserable we are here. My brother says I need help and maybe I should get anti-depressants. I never needed pills to deal with life back home but I guess he is right and I should be on something to get me through this move here.
Please say a prayer for us that things will get better. Thanks.
In the meantime, I thank the Lord for my life and my health, for without that you have nothing. We will continue to think positive and do our best to carry on.
Joanie and Brian if you are reading this always remember we love you guys and miss you all so much. I am so glad we got webcam so we can still talk to each other face to face, Joan.
Brian, I wish you could get your webcam up and running so we could do the same. |
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This is what gets me through each day..................
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a reason and a time to every purpose under heaven.
Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call....
He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light...
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love. |
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