My Family | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: My Family | Previous Challenge Entry
By Alice Zvacek
12/06/07
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My family is really close. You know – they’re the kind of family that’s always there for you, and you’re there for them.

We all live within an hour of each other. Well, almost all of us. A few years ago my brother Jay and his wife moved two states away because he got a big promotion. They had so much trouble selling their house here. My husband Don and my brother Ted took our mower and mowed their grass for them so that they didn’t have a jungle while they were trying to sell it.

My brother Ted, he’s one of those guys who always goes the extra mile. He and Mary live about 30 minutes from us, and our transmission went out when we were close to their house. Even though they were having a romantic evening at home to celebrate their anniversary, he came and got us and took us home.

Mary’s a gem! She and my sister Debi clean houses together. Well at least for now they do! Debi and her husband Tab are moving because his company shut their office here. They’ll be 12 hours away! They bought a big enough house though that they can have guests, and they will get to be closer to Tab’s family. Mary asked my daughter Janine if she wants to clean with her! Janine’s excited because it will give her extra money for college.

Thinking about Janine makes me realize even more just how special my family is! Janine’s had health problems over the years and has been in the hospital several times! Every time, most of the crew has come to see her! When my son Garrett was born, he was really sick, and eventually when he was strong enough, he had to have heart surgery! Nobody could really see him, but my family came anyway. There were probably 15 people in my room at one point. There weren’t supposed to be that many, but the nurses let them stay because they knew that I needed it. Everyone helped take care of Janine while Garrett was in the hospital. When we got home, they brought us food every night for a week.

Last year, it was my turn to make sure that we all took food to my sister Katrina and her family when she had surgery, and two years ago when my sister-in-law Sherry was diagnosed with cancer, we all got together and made a bunch of food that they could have in the freezer for Tony and the boys to heat up!

When my brother Evan lost his job and got another one with a big cut in pay, he and Lorrie had to sell their beautiful house and buy a cheaper one. We were all there to help them move. We even helped them finish their basement, so they would have more room.

When Kristen and Ken had problems with their son, we were there crying with them, hugging them, praying for them. We were there when Darcy and Luke were really having problems. We prayed for them, we made sure they got counseling, and we even sent them on a marriage retreat. When Lainey and Paul’s business went under, it was really bad. It was right at Christmas. They barely had the money to pay their bills let alone buy presents for the kids, but everyone pitched in and they made it through.

When Don’s company closed and he got laid off after 20 years, I was scared! We had two kids with health problems, no job, no way to keep the insurance! What made it worse is that Ted worked there too, but Ted got a new job really quickly! Ted always made sure we were ok, and Ted helped Don to get on at his work too!

I love my family! They’re always there for you!

If you know me, you might be wondering what I’m talking about. Because you see, I’m an only child!

But family - that’s what small groups are all about!

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