Breaking Out

Our youngest brother called up from Fort Madison, Iowa and talk to my dad and my family giving his christmas greetings to all of us because it was still Dec. 24 in the states and Dec. 25 here in the Cebu, Philippines...He has a 2 year old kid and his wife was also with him...I could see and feel how he misses christmas in the Philippines or basically missing the family that you grew up with......although he has been in the states for almost more than three years...It was the first time that we talked for quite awhile almost an hour on the phone...He was relating to me the great difficulties that he has been facing since migrating to the states and how he has started to raise a family a stranger in a strange land...although its not really that diffiult to culturally blend in but it was his breaking out challenge of his life...He bought a car and a house...he had to work hard each and everyday while he still needs to fix his immigration papers by getting a green card for him and his wife...although his son was born in the states automatically becoming an american citizen...His son these days was having an on and off bout with fever maybe due to the colds and coughs that is brought about by the freezing weather...His family of three people are doing those small steps in the process of trying to make a life in the states...with all those monthly bills and other bills to pay such as the bank mortgage and insurance...but I know deep down inside of me he will get over all of these problems...they may be daunting but one day he will look over these years as a way of seeing that his break out move was the best decision that he has done in years...anyways...I told him to lighten up a bit because its christmas...at least he was having a white christmas because there is no snow here in the philippines...I guess we will always have difficulty in appreciating the things that we have because they are presently there...its the fact that when they are gone...thats the time we miss them...the same goes with family...I can still remember my mother telling us six brothers then not to spend our time fighting because someday you all will realize that those moments that all of your brothers will be together will come to pass because you will all go your separate ways when you all will grow up...and I bet you ...you will miss those days with your brothers and sisters when you were growing up...specially during christmas...christmas is for family...always where one may be...