So I checked the 20SB forum to see what was up and I saw the question, “What are you passionate about?”

One thing I value above all else is my family.

Growing up, me and my sister did a lot of traveling between our separated parents. This segmented the family into two separate families, both of which we love equally.

So, child support can be a bitch for an underpaid carpenter living in northern Massachusetts, and needless to say, my family was always there to help. I remember growing up in a large blue house that my mom and dad had bought and my dad had kept after the separation. He would rent out the rooms to be able to afford mortgage payments. Some of the residents of that house are still considered family to this day.

I moved in with my grandmother during her last year as a teacher to have her as my 6th grade math teacher. During this time she kept me very active in extracurricular activities…. and math. It formed the bases of my knowledge of math and sciences as well as set the course for the path I would lead to become what I am now. I was even asked to give a speech in front of the whole school to commemorate my grandmother on her last day as a teacher.

So back to my father for a second. He had several girlfriends after him and my mom separated. Finally he settled on the “red headed vixen from Minnesota”, those are his words, her name was Jean. She had 3 kids when she met my dad. This was about 11 years ago I think. My dad finally married Jean about 2 months ago and officially connected the two families.

I love my step family. I now have:

• DJ: crazy 14 yr old steb-bro
• Erin: cool 20 yr old step-sis
• Sara: Independent 24 yr old step-sis
• Kayleigh: The one and only KK Bishop aka my sister

So my sister, Erin and I spend a lot of time together because we’re so close in age, and it is a lot of fun. DJ visits his mom on the weekends so I try and make it a point to spend my weekends at my dads so he doesn’t go crazy.

Now my mom’s side is just as great … just located a little farther away. Most of the family lives in Puerto Rico however we have a handful of relatives in New York and Florida. They’re always just a phone call away any time we need a little help.

I could go on and on about my family… so I will in later posts. But my main point with this post is to stress to others how important family really is. Their the one’s you can really rely on and will always really be there for you. There something about sharing a last name that makes your bond so much stronger. My sister and I are inseparable, and I couldn’t picture it any other way. One of my biggest turn-offs is when a girl doesn’t get along with her family. I was brought up differently and couldn’t imagine life without them.