life, don't take it for granted

while always growing up i was taught to count my blessings and not be envious of what others have.
i grew up in a normal home i guess, my dad was self employed and owned his own buisness, my mother was a stay at home mom, and i had four brothers, and i had a room of my own. would seem great right, money was never a problem with my family growing, no financial stress, or worries, always had food in the fridge went shopping fruequently, and was attending a private school. we had several big barbeques,, and large family gatherings. always surrounded by people who never had to worry bout what they were gana eat the next day or if they were gana have enough money to get to school.
well when i was fifteen i was sent to live in a home with another family in oregon. this was a hard adjustment, i was sharing a room, and was living in a mobile home, i did at first feel a little insecure and feel out of place, since i had grown up in a wealthy family. even though i had lived there for two years, eating off brand foods, and buying walmart brand clothes, i had realized that life isn't about the money, or the house, it's about being safe, feeling secure, a feeling of security that isn't based on money or the expensive lifestyle. its about relationships, and being there and helping give everything you have in order to help others.
two years later after i had moved back home with my parents, i was eighteen, and i was having a hard time living at home. i have a boyfriend who always came over and he and his family are in financial crisis, and were at the risk of losing their second home. they owned a two bedroom home and had eight people living there. i as often as i could helpedout with what i could, provided bryan, my boyfriend with gas money, helped do house work when i went to visit his family at their house and even when we went out oin family outings to the movies, i always gave a share of money.
for this family money was a problem , yes, but they have the most amazing hearts, made me feel so welcome and like i was one of their own. they invited me into their home, and even though there was a money problem, they said come with us, we may not have alot, but we will make the best out of what we've got.
i thought about it and said to myself, these people are an angel in my life. i now have been living with bryan and his parenst for almost four months but it feels so much longer. i help out with what ever i can, everything from dishes, to yardwork, to helping dad with his car.
i knew the situation before i had moved in, and i make the best out of what i have, i'm graduating, i'm living with bryan, and his family,i'm happy, i still have the love of my parents, and i have my best friend brenda whose got my back through what ever life throws my way.
yws life way be at the hardest right now, and we may eat alot of repetative foods, but its the family that counts, and the love of others, that is what keeps us together. seriously count your blessings, and realize that even if you do lose everything, if u look around you, you will see family and people who care. please never ever let money get in the way of relationships, even with family, cuz if u in the end, end up losing it all, you will have no one, and people won't want to help. keep family close, and show them love, they will help you through everything, they won't bail.