Who I am

So this blog thing is pretty cool.  I actually couldn't wait to write some more.

I titled this post, who I am, because I wanted to talk about those who got me to where I am today.   I am humbled to my core, yet know God has more for me.  There are a TON of people who helped me along the way.  More than I could list on here.  In this blog I am going to talk about those who set a 'foundation' for me growing up.

I grew up with divorced parents.  My mom remarried, my dad never did.  While some kids really struggle with their parents not being together, I don't remember a time that I did.  I say don't remember a time, because they got divorced when I was very young. 

I always felt blessed.  In the divorce and remarriage I ended up with 3 parents, a new brother and a new sister, and another set of grandparents.  So the divorce thing never really was a negative to me, and the more I reflected on it as an adult, I see the true blessing in it.

While I have taken many things away from my 3 parents, I have taken 1 big thing from each to help build my foundation. 

My Dad.  I am going to start with him.  He is one of the most amazing people I have even known.   I remember even as a little kid, my sister and I being his life! The thing I most admire him about is the way he  bounced back after the divorce.  He was able to go through a divorce along with taking on another huge struggle at that point in his life, and kick it.  He took them both head on.  Not only did he take them on,  he did it while it seemed like he was losing everything, a house, two cars, his family, etc...  He then found a way to turn around and help other people who might be struggling at a point in their life. 

My Dad ranks up there  in the most successful and impactful people in my life. Watching him, put the foundation in my life of CHOOSING to make your life into what you want, even if you are at what you think is the lowest part of your life.  I take away a genuine heart and caring for others from him.  And I take away what it is to be a father, when I have kids one day.  Anyone can be a dad, it take someone special to be a father, and he is one, to it's truest sense.   I admire his will, love for us as his kids, and his ability to not give up at a trying point in his life and not only not to give up, but to turn it around to help others.

Next- Ed.  Ed became a father to my sister and I early on.  From the day he and my mom were dating, he took care of my sister and I very well.  From Ed, I took away for my foundation, the word respect and love for people.  Respect for myself, for my family, for older people, for life.  It's no secret that Ed and I had our 'challanging times'.  What step-son and step-father don't?  I believe with all of my heart though, not only was Ed brought into our lives to love my mom, but I think God put him there for specifically me.  Don't get my wrong, my mom and dad taught me how to love and respect others, but for some reason I seemed to really take Eds lead in this. 

I believe to this day, the reason why I love people and have a mission to make a difference in the lives of others, is from my parents pushing how important this was.  Ed though, took it to a new level.  I would watch how he treated people, how he would help anyone, and never accept pay.  I still to this day, watch a room dynamic change when he walks into it.  People just seem to gravitate to him and his charisma.  It's a trait that I think can't be learned and comes natural.  One of the most humble people you could ever learn from, and the life of the party all at the same time.  I remember him once telling me, you have to treat people right, and things will fall into place for you.  HOWEVER he would say, you don't treat them right, just so things will fall into place for you, you do it because its the right thing to do.  Pretty simple really if you think about it.  Treat people the right way, because it's the right thing to do.  Easy for a 7 year old to understand, and till holds true at the age of 28. 

Then there is my mom.  There is something about a mothers and son's relationship that just can't be touched.  In fact, I think there is something about a mothers relationship, with her children(boy or girl) that no words, that we know of on this earth, could describe.  That's the best way to describe my mom and what she has meant to me in my life, with no words.  Because really,  you can't think of any that will do justice.  But that would be a pretty boring blog, if I didn't try!  My mom encompasses all that is good with this world.  And while I took specific things I remember from my other two parents, my mom pretty much sums all good things up.  She is why, I think like to think at least, that I am a well rounded person. Or at least try to be.  She taught me about how to love, think, pray, know God, treat people, love people, and live life.  She taught me everything in life, and much of it through her actions.  I always like to point out how I think actions, are the best teachers. Anyone could tell their kids how to live, act, etc..But if they don't live those words, then why would the kid?  My mom at one point in our lives, when she was single and raising us, made $100 go longer than any person it seemed like.  Looking back as an adult, knowing what they made, understanding now what it takes, I can say this with all honesty.  I have NO CLUE how she did it.  None!  The thing about it, my sister and I really wanted for nothing.  I remember my mom leaving me cards in my room knowing when I was having a rough week.  She knew maybe a girlfriend had broken up with me, or maybe I was struggling with something.  Knowing I wouldn't come out and tell her what was wrong if she asked.  She simply made it known, that she knew, and she was there.

So I have taken away from my mom to build my foundation-pretty much everything that has made me have success as a person.  Knowing everything was/is going to be okay in life, for the simple fact that she is my mother, makes difficult times better.  That's how I truly feel in life, that no matter what, having her in my corner and still teaching me life lessons, makes me know everything in this life is going to be okay, no matter what.  That kind of presence you see, doesn't have words to describe it, but it impacts one to his core and soul.

My sister.   I wrote this to my sister on her wedding day.  It pretty much sums up how she has impacted my life.  She is truly my mothers, daugther and in many was has had the same impact as my mom.

I am sure you helped teach me how to walk and talk. I am sure you had something to do with me learning to spell, ride bikes, and play sports. As we grew older I am sure you taught me how to sneak and open Christmas presents-and then tape them back-up weeks before Christmas was here. As we grew older I am sure you were the one who taught me how to sign mom’s name, for those report cards and ‘sick’ days I didn’t want her to know about. I am sure you taught me how to handle adversity and how to be humble when things were great.

You see, these are the things that big sisters do. They teach you, protect you, and make sure you are taken care of. You fulfilled these duties as a big sister, and you didn’t it better than anyone could have. And while I am pretty sure you taught me all of the above and much more, there is one thing I KNOW is true. You are the best big sister that a little brother could ever have or want. I am very humbled that when God was looking to give you a little brother, he picked me. He knew the help I would need and knew that you were the perfect big sister for the job.
So on your wedding day, my toast to you is: Thank you for being the best big sister ever put on earth. Thank you for being the best friend a little brother could have. My wish for you is happiness that takes your breath away and a life that gives you pace. I know what both are like, because I experienced both having you as a big sister.

I put the parts in BOLD because there isn't a statement that I will ever write in one of these blogs that is more true than that one.

As you can see I have had a lot of help in archiving many of my goals in life.  I have had a chance to do some pretty cool things.  It's because of the people above that helped build my foundation.  But you can see a theme in something they have all taught me, in the postings.  They taught me in someway, a love for people.  The desire to help others, to make a difference.  I talked in the first blog about my purpose.  How could that not be my purpose?