The Family I Never Knew I Had

The back story of this whole thing, is long and complicated, and to protect my family, I won't reveal all the details. Basically, my mom has known for years about her half -brothers (Mark & Ben), and her Biological father (J.B) but did not want to contact them until Mark & Ben's Mother had passed, for the sake of her feelings. My mom contacted Ben somewhere in the Mid- 1980's and they exchanged letters off and on, but Mark still had no clue about my Mom, until Ben had passed away - from an infection he had gotten after he became paraplegic when he was 16 from a car accident - (but he dodged death and lived for many years after that.) After Ben passed, Mark found the letters my Mom and He had exchanged, and then a few years later my mom grew bold, and finally contacted Mark. Mark knew exactly who my mom was once she said her name over the phone. And then a few months after that, we made the trip down to Oklahoma City to meet Mark.

They were both pleasantly surprised to see how much they looked alike, and Mom loved having someone else to look like! After keeping in touch for a few years, we both learned of the news that Mark and his girlfriend Cynthia had gotten engaged! (after 10 years of dating! ha ha) We planned to attend, both not knowing what to expect or who to meet.

The weekend finally arrived and we headed down to Hugo, OK to meet a few relatives I never knew I had, and Cynthia's family that would soon become ours. There we also met a life long friend of my Uncle Ben's, Brian. Brian took care of Ben many years, and had all sorts of great stories to share with my mom and I. Everyone had the nicest things to say about Ben, and how he was such an amazing individual.

This next comment took me by surprise, and I never expected to happen at all, Brian said

"The first time I saw you, immediately I thought you looked like Ben."

Even Brian's parents said that same thing almost as soon as I had met them.

I looked like an Uncle I had never met, or seen a picture of. Going into that weekend, I had never expected anyone to tell me that. There was a picture of him at the wedding, and it was confirmed. As the stories poured out of Brian's mouth about Ben, I was more proud to look like him than I ever thought I could have been. He was a truly honorable man, and has lived longer than any other person with the same conditions as him. "They should really do medical studies on him", Brian said.

If you know my mom, even a little, you know she was crying her eyes out that day. Both her and I felt so at home with all of those people - both family and not. I think she finally feels whole inside to have siblings that are so proud to call her their sister. And I feel very proud to be called Mark & Ben's niece. (although I'm still getting used to the whole calling them Uncle thing, as I'm sure you can tell)

So the weekend overall was a huge success! (despite the disgusting motel we stayed in) We've been invited back for the family reunion in September, and to visit Ben's grave on the anniversary of his death in August. But most importantly, Cynthia & Mark are husband and wife, and I am so thankful to them for inviting us, and to let my mom and I experience the family we never knew we had.

Brian, My Mom, & Mark

Spring Break Highs and Woes

My spring break in a nutshell:

Highs:

• I got to see my family
• Participated in my churches annual Easter Panorama
• Slept in
• Saw some old friends
• Ate some good food
• I enjoyed playing and seeing my cats again!
• I found a banquet dress! (I'm sure pictures will come once April 12th is over)

Lows

• I came home to a sick Mommy, and she was sick most of the week (she's doing better now)
• Flat tire on my car
• My oh-so opinionated, but wonderful Grandma (she's great most of the time I promise!)
• I went to the wrong dental office *twice* (whoever thought it was a good idea to have 2 offices on opposite sides of town was mistaken on the easiness factor)
• Once I finally got to the orthodontist, he gave me the wonderful news that I (or Dad) gets to buy new retainers!
• Kansas wind/weather... constantly changing like always - consistency please?

So that was my spring break - feel informed?

This week I'm mostly concentrating on school stuff. I have a test tomorrow, I made my next semester schedule this week, and right now I am mainly focused on what I am going to do this summer. I'm going to talk to my advisor tomorrow about possible opportunities in the Wichita area that are related to the career field I want to go into to. Hopefully I get some leads, or at least some advice on where to go first. Wish me luck! :-)

This weekend Mom and I are off to Hugo, OK to go to Mark's wedding. It should be fun! It's been a while since we've seen him, and we're both so happy that he's marrying Cynthia! (it's been a long time coming, from what I hear!) Please pray that we have a safe drive there and the we remain patient and listen to each other (that can be hard with us sometimes, on road trips especially)

Tales of an INFJ and her ISTJ

So right now I am enrolled in a Principles of Management class. When thinking of management, a person doesn't ordinarily (or at least I don't...) think of personality tests.

Well this teacher does apparently.

I have taken 2 personality tests so far this semester. The first determined how I learn, and the second describes you as a person and what you are probably going to be like through marriage, with your children, who you are compatible with, etc. It's pretty much the know all of personality tests.

The test determined I am an INFJ

I- Introvertive

N- Intuitive

F- Feeling

J- Judging

I started reading the book that went along with it, ("Please Understand Me II") and I was surprised at how interesting it was to me. But based on the outcome of the MBTI test, I am the type of person who LOVES learning why people are the way they are ( so I guess I wasn't too surprised about that)

I found myself laughing as I read through the pages of the book, reading more about myself. It was most definitely ME! (It's nice knowing that you are not a total freak for doing certain things that seem normal to you)

The book was also weird since it talks about how that type of person is in marriage, intimacy, and as a parent. In that section, I almost felt like I was reading a book that I wasn't supposed to be reading. The future is the future because you do not know it's going to happen yet, so finding that I should expect certain things kind of ruined the fun a little. However, being the INFJ that I am, looking toward the future is a part of who I am. I talk/worry/obsess about what I'm going to do after college, paying off loans, where I'm going to live when I graduate, getting married, children... and countless other questions that no one who is 19 needs to worry about.

Boyfriend has a little trouble dealing with this aspect of me.

His frequent phrase is "I don't know, I just know I don't have to worry about that right now, and when it happens I'll figure it out" (or something to that effect)

Boyfriend is an ISTJ - which means he is more of a serious, conservative, hard working type, who likes to solve problems, and thinks in the present, not the future. So now you can kind of understand why he gets aggrevated with me....

The book also has a section titled "Mating" where they take differnt types of personalities and tell you how they would react in a marriage type setting. I would be lying if I said I didn't freak out a little when the book said: "renewed efforts to solidify and stabilize their (it says marriage, but I am going to use relationship) relationship only taken as a sign of superficiality. "

I really did freak out....(just ask Anastasia and Katy) I questioned our entire relationship practically just because of this dumb book...

After I calmed down, and after talking to my ISTJ, he determined that "this book was full of lies"(straight from the horses mouth) Boyfriend is sceptical to believe things sometimes, which is a good quality to have in a partner when you are easily gullable. (he takes advantage of this more times than I can count) So with much reassuring from Boyfriend, I realized this book didn't determined our furture, we did. This book couldn't control our future, we did. If our relationship comes to the point where we are thinking of pursuing a greater calling, it came to that point because it was supposed to. I think the Big Man was testing me a little in this situation....

I'll finish this post with a quote from one of my favorite movies, " A League of Thier Own"

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, then every one would do it. The hard is what makes it great." - Jimmy Dugan

The Start of Something New

Hello! to whom ever is going to read this thing. I assume it will mostly be friends and family, but I suppose I wouldn't want it any other way!

I wanted to start this blog as a way to document my daily life and be able to look back later and see my growth, and laugh about the things that have happened to me.

I plan to you this as a journal-like tool, so there may be some rants, raves and probably even some things you won't understand (if fact I can almost guarantee that will happen!)

So here goes....

This weekend is Spring Sing at OC! It's been slowly taking over my life since this semester started and as much as I love the tradition of Spring Sing, I won't shed one tear over its passing. With Spring Sing also comes Spring Visit. This is a time where high school Juniors and Seniors can come and check out OC and see if its right for them. (Usually around this time the lawn staff, maintenance and construction workers tend to kick it in to high gear )- they don't think we notice that they're trying to make the campus look pretty so all the prospective students - but I've caught on. Nice try OC.

Also, some other news was announced in Chapel today! Next year Mac Books will be available for students! They are making them compatible with Windows for those who choose to keep their Dell computers. Also, those on the faculty along with getting Mac Books, will in addition receive an iPhone. I am very excited to have the opportunity to receive a new laptop!


Wish me luck in Spring Sing!