divbblog

Margaret and Jim Carter are my parents.

They are both the eldest of seven children

So for love there was no absence.

 They went on to have seven kids of their own

 So there was never a dull moment in our home.

 They have been awesome parents

Who gave us all much guidance;

And they have been there for us always,

 As they have always gone the distance;

I couldn’t have asked for better parents as they showed us each love

And they taught us about GOD too.

Our family was so big it was like having our own crew.

It felt as though that we were like the tv show family,

“The Waltons” as we too love each other so dearly.

I have six siblings, 3 sisters and 3 brothers in all.

It was great to grow up in a big family as life was never dull.

The first born in our family is my brother Jim, named after my dad.

He is the photographer in the family who is very artistic

And can make anything he envisions.

The next is my sister Joanne. She has always been one of the nurturers

And also one of the brainy ones.

My brother Alan, is the third born and he is Mr. Fix it,

Who is great at a lot of things including wiring and plumbing.

After Al, came along my brother John.

He is a lot like him, as he too is a Mr. Fix it and just as charming.

He also has such a loving, caring spirit

As one year when I had no one for Valentine’s Day

He bought me a card and a chocolate bar,

So I would feel loved and that goes to show

Just how great my siblings truly are.

The fifth born, is my sister Carol Ann, who we call “Carol.”

She and I share the same birthday just 5 years apart,

In the middle of the month of April.

 She is a Personal Support Worker who works in a nursing home

And many moments you will also find in her hand with a scissors or comb,

As she is also an amazing hairstylist in her free time;

This profession she has had for a very long time.

 She like my other siblings has such a generous and caring heart

And to me they all get the gold medal for being total sweethearts.

I am then the next in line

And followed by me, comes my little sister, Maryann, who I like to call “Marigold” some of the time.

She is the last of us seven kids that filled up our household.

She along with my other siblings is also one of my dear friends

That mean more to me than gold.

Maryann, is one of the outgoing ones,

Who can make most people laugh

And she too like the others also

Manages to look great in every single photograph;

That is because she is very photogenic like my other siblings.

My family is such a gift and one of my many thanksgivings.

I am so blessed to have each of these siblings and be a part of such a great family as, “The Carter’s,”

I always look forward when we all can all get together once again,

At our family gatherings.

We may not have always been able to see eye to eye

And sometimes we may have made one another cry.

But the love we share

Helps us to overcome our differences

And that is because our parents brought us up with GOD and prayer.

They are what have kept us together like glue,

And they are the strong foundation in our family too.

I just feel so happy and blessed that this was the family,

I was actually fortunate enough to be born into.

Written By: Diane Van Bommel

 

 (Dedicated to my mom, dad and my siblings, Jim. Joanne, Alan (“Al”), John, Carol Ann (“Carol”)

and my baby sister, Maryann,

I love you guys so much and I am so blessed

to have you as a part of my life

and more importantly to be a part of such a loving family.)

(Family Picture is taken by: George Wolf)

(Picture of my childhood home taken by:Steve Hubley)