It's hard to fathom . . .

the venom that can come from my BIL. Now, he's spewing to my mom, since Raj and I aren't taking his emotional abuse. I've found several leads for his housing, free to him as a Medicaid recipient, and sent a lot of information to him Saturday regarding additional assistance. He has options, but isn't really ready for that, so I screen phone calls/emails until he can communicate with civility, and I try to protect my kids from the reality that he values money/possessions and hate above all else. Makes me sick to my stomach.

Need housing for Raj's brother

With no one else able to do so, I've been paying all of Raj's disabled brother's expenses for the past 3 years, using the proceeds of their parents' estate. The terrible real estate market, coupled with bankrupt/depressed investments, has finally caught up with his growing needs and expenses. I used some of the kids' college savings to pay his mortgage & bills March 1, and have shared the news with him. He's alternately sad/angry/suicidal, and has no one to blame, so it's falling to Raj and me. The immediate need is housing for him, since I'm guessing we'll face foreclosure on the house he's in.

All I want to know . . .

is how I got to this point? As a child, I didn't say "When I grow up, I'm going to be a punching bag for an in-law with a severe case of entitlement."

I need

a vacation

I'm so grateful

. . . for Lou I. spending most of his Sunday afternoon here yesterday, helping to assemble the IKEA drawers for my girls. It will be so nice for them to put their clothes into dressers that they don't have to fight to open/close.
. . . for Tom O. arranging rides for Raj to participate in the Job Jars at church!
. . . for Mom going through the laundry room, sorting through old shoes, cleaning up, helping me in endless ways.
. . . for friends/family willing to meet me for lunch, offer a kind word on email or Facebook, or give me a hug!
. . . for the increasing sunshine (and no bugs yet!) of springtime.
. . . for music that can lift my mood, take me back, provide comfort, get me moving, and speak to my soul.
. . . for humor.