Wow...big changes have been happening in our house the past few weeks! I don't even know where to begin. Lets make a long story really short, and say that while I haven't had the best relationship with my brother over the past year, when push comes to shove, family always comes first. Unless they are mentally abusive and toxic...but we will talk about my mother later. ;)
When Mike called me a couple weeks ago to fill me in on the problems he was having with his wife, I listened, and for the first time in over 9 months, we talked. About a lot of stuff, mostly his problems, a little about what had happened last October that had pushed us apart, and a lot about his plans for the future. After all that he had been through the last few months, he decided that those plans for the future couldn't include Kami, and I helped him through the process of filing for divorce. His plan had been to stay up there and apply for jobs down here and move when he found one, but he was miserable at the thought of it. Matthew and I talked, and we offered to let him come down and stay with us for a few months, until he is able to find a job and get himself a place of his own. So, we went from not talking in 9 months to living together full time....like I said, lots of changes happening around here!
He drove down with a car full of his stuff on Friday the 19th, flew back up on the 21st, and made the long drive back down through snow and ice covered passes today with a Uhaul filled with the rest of his belongings. We set up a little semi-private room for him off the kitchen, and its actually pretty nice to see this space have a purpose. I like the way it turned out, and it gives him (almost) all the comforts of home. Except things like peace, quiet and privacy...and those are overrated anyways! ;)
This is the view looking through the kitchen:
On the other side of the bookshelves is his bed and nightstand:
And on the opposite wall is his TV area:
I think having Mike here is going to be really good all around. The kids are really excited about all these changes and they are looking forward to spending time with him. Mike and Matthew have been making plans for beer brewing together, its nice that they have a lot in common and that they get along well. For me, I am just looking forward to having my brother in my life again. Its been a long time, and I have really missed him. I am excited about the changes that he is making in his life, he seems happier than ever and its really nice to see that. I think that we finally have a chance of being close, and I couldn't be more excited about what the future holds for our family!
When Mike called me a couple weeks ago to fill me in on the problems he was having with his wife, I listened, and for the first time in over 9 months, we talked. About a lot of stuff, mostly his problems, a little about what had happened last October that had pushed us apart, and a lot about his plans for the future. After all that he had been through the last few months, he decided that those plans for the future couldn't include Kami, and I helped him through the process of filing for divorce. His plan had been to stay up there and apply for jobs down here and move when he found one, but he was miserable at the thought of it. Matthew and I talked, and we offered to let him come down and stay with us for a few months, until he is able to find a job and get himself a place of his own. So, we went from not talking in 9 months to living together full time....like I said, lots of changes happening around here!
He drove down with a car full of his stuff on Friday the 19th, flew back up on the 21st, and made the long drive back down through snow and ice covered passes today with a Uhaul filled with the rest of his belongings. We set up a little semi-private room for him off the kitchen, and its actually pretty nice to see this space have a purpose. I like the way it turned out, and it gives him (almost) all the comforts of home. Except things like peace, quiet and privacy...and those are overrated anyways! ;)
This is the view looking through the kitchen:
On the other side of the bookshelves is his bed and nightstand:
And on the opposite wall is his TV area:
I think having Mike here is going to be really good all around. The kids are really excited about all these changes and they are looking forward to spending time with him. Mike and Matthew have been making plans for beer brewing together, its nice that they have a lot in common and that they get along well. For me, I am just looking forward to having my brother in my life again. Its been a long time, and I have really missed him. I am excited about the changes that he is making in his life, he seems happier than ever and its really nice to see that. I think that we finally have a chance of being close, and I couldn't be more excited about what the future holds for our family!