Be Ye Separate

What do you do with family?

Blessings!

   So the question is in my title! What DO you do with family? Oh I know that's a rather loaded question for some but for me it's more of an exasperated question.

   I've never really shared much about my family. It's not that I'm ashamed of my family (though there are THINGS that have happened that have caused me to feel shame FOR some of them), I just don't always feel that it's relevant to say much about them. It's their life afterall...right?

   Okay, let me cut to the chase...my brother has informed my mother that I have somehow "disowned" him publicly in some forum or other because he's atheist. Hmmmmm. Does that sound like me? Well, I looked through all my blog and can't find anywhere that I alluded to such a thing so I looked at the couple of groups Im' a member of and couldn't find anything there either. Then I decided to do a "search" I tried several different search engines from Lycos to Google, from WebCrawler to Dogpile. Here's what I found...I'm not the only coveredchristian or sisterlori out there! Imagine that! (Yes I'm being sarcastic). Although I didn't read through their things too closely I didn't see anything in their things either.

   The things my brother accused me of as well as the terrible things he said of my husband and even about my parents just made me so bothered. I spent a few sleepless nights and LOTS of prayer trying to make sense of it. I still have no idea where he would have seen such things but I am done being tied up in knots over it now:)

   I just wanted to say, just in case my brother does manage to find this blog (perhaps I'll email it to him so he can see it), that my what my brother believes has no bearing on whether or not I "disown" him. Do I care that he isn't a believer? Yes! But I don't disown him for NOT believing.

   You know, it just occurred to me...I wouldn't have called him an atheist anyway because he's not one. He's agnostic. He KNOWS he's agnostic...so why would he use the word atheist? Maybe because someone else with a covered christian blog/forum/group/site might have a brother that IS one.

   I have never shared too much about my brother but since I'm accused of it I want to share the truth...don't worry I'm not being spiteful, just want you to know about him:)

   I have NEVER mentioned names of my family except for my husband and children and my two grandsons. Yes this would include our children who no longer live with us:) And I won't start now because I feel it's his business to do that.

   Here's the lowdown. I have two brothers. One is a troll...and I do mean a real troll. He lives under bridges, has been in prison more than he's been under the bridges. He's hateful, mean and abusive. HIM...I disowned many years ago...now lets not confuse that with the brother I'm writing about:)

   The GOOD brother, is agnostic. He doesn't believe in God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and such but he does believe in a greater being. A creator of sorts. (it's a start):) I am pretty sure his wife believes although she's not obviously religious. They have a daughter that I do believe is atheist or at least agnostic like her dad. Their other daughter was baptized some time ago and what she does for churching I don't know. They live in Wisconsin and I don't see or hear from them.

   We visited them when we went back east last year. We traveled across country for nearly 7 weeks in our camper and they were on the way:) Anyway we enjoyed the visit and even discussed the possibility of moving nearer to them since he's all the family I will have left when our parents are gone.

   Well, brother dear, here it is. I love you. I send a Christmas card every year. I think of you often. I pray for you daily. It would be nice to hear from you once in awhile. A card. A letter. A phonecall. AFter all the road goes both ways:)

   I think this was a silly post and I pray that no one thinks that I am in any way "airing" anything or that I'm trying to be hurtful. It's not my intention at all. I just want to be sure that my brother has a clear understanding about how I really feel about him. And thank you mom for letting me know. Next time you "defend" me, give him my new number:) I would love to talk with him. He is after all my big brother:)

God be with thee!

little Sister Lori:)

I am blessed

Blessings!

I was very touched by the giving of this little award. To think that my blog has touched someones heart is such a blessing to me. Thank you kerimae for your kind thoughts. So at the risk of repeating...

I would like to award my dear friend CaraDD. She inspires me and makes me laugh even when it's not funny:) She understands my ponderings and encourages me with her own. It isn't often one finds a friend you can trust with your heart:)

I would also like to award another dear friend mvose1051. I have known her for a few years now:) having met at another time/another place. She has often inspired my ponders. She also has a heartfelt way of letting you know she cares. Her blog continues to uplift me and gives me those glimpses into her life that I would not otherwise have.

Another is shekinah. She inspires me with her true heartfelt searching for the truth. Her blog continues to give that window into her heart and what I see is a woman after God's own heart. It blesses me as she discovers who God created her to be.

Next is stitchnchick. I enjoy her walk through her own history. It is encouraging to read about her days and uplifting as she lets us all journey through her life with her blog. Her humor and her love of the Lord is transparent throughout her writing.

And last but certainly not least...blessedmomof10. Her blog has been inspiring, encouraging and uplifting in too man ways to count. Her love for the Lord and her dedication to being obedient to His call is amazing. Not a week goes by that I don't visit and catch up on all she has to share on her blog. I am blessed!

So now, I'm supposed to post the rules...

Rules of participating:
1. Copy this post.
2. Replace [my bloggers with yours] & Reflect on five bloggers and write a least a paragraph about each one.
3. Make sure you link this post so others can read it and the rules.
4. Go leave your chosen bloggers a comment and let them know they've been given the award.
5. Put the award icon on your site.

   I'm not sure what else to do and I don't know how to link the names from my blog. I'm trying to learn how to do all those little spiffy things:P Please visit these blogs. I pray that you will be as blessed as I have been:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori