Curveball

 Written on 4/10/12

When life throws you a curve ball you just do your best to swing the bat. 

Two months before my 26th birthday my mother succumbed to a lung disease. It was at that time I made one of the biggest decisions in my life. I am the oldest of 5 children. My siblings were at the time 16, 13, 7 and 5. The decision was to continue taking care of them as I was while my mother was sick except as their guardian or let them go into the foster care system. I was told there was no guarantee that they would all be able to stay together and the loss of our mother was enough of a devestation they did not need to lose their siblings also. They were in my full time care for about 6 months before my mother's passing. So I decided that they would stay with me and I would become their full time guardian on June 1, 1998. This was a real hard decision, but also not one I regret. 

Shortly after taking on the responsibility I learned that Jennifer Lopez had taken custody of her siblings as well. So I told myself that if someone with as busy a life such as her's must be, then I definitely could do it as well. There was some comfort in knowing that somewhere out there with someone in the same situation and that I wasn't the only one in this journey. It was tough with a lot of bumps in the road, but they are all adults now. Each one of them knows that they can come to me for whatever and I will do for them what I can as long as I have the means to. 

Family is the most important thing to me. One thing I can tell people is things can be replaced for the most part, but what can never be replaced are people and time spent with them, so make the most of the time with your family and friends because they are things that are irreplaceable. I now have six kids of my own. They are ages 16, 12, 7, 4, and 2 year old twin boys. These are my most prized possessions. 

So when you're faced with what seems to be the worst thing, hardest decision, or even some unforeseen circumstances in your life just keep in mind that curveball is coming at you, but the bat is really in your hands so swing wisely and carefully. 

Written 3/14/2021

So I say today that time spent now is of the essence. You cannot go back and redo. You miss a moment now and it's missed forever.