From Broken to Whole - A blessed Family

Hi Steemians!
I'm Lala and I am new here.
I would like to share who I am.
Here, I will reveal the truths about my family.

My name is Lala, I came from a broken family. I lived in Bulacan with my Aunt and cousins who took care of me, they said, I was only 8-month old when they took me away from my mother's custody. They said my mother was deppressed during that time and turned to a gambling woman and worst, became a drug addict during that time.

My parents were married. Papa went back to Saudi after the wedding. After 2 years of contract he came home again, but only to find out that my mother had a newly-born child. How sad, yes... My mother had an affair with other man who used to be with her doing gamblings, cockfightings, card games... not a good influence one.
Inspite of this, Papa decided to assume the duties and responsibilities and gave his name to the child - the eldest.

He gave another chance to Mama, they lived together, but Papa found out Mama's Vices, most of the time, she's drunk, always angry, addicted to more gamblings. Things got worst. She doesn't want to be with Papa.

Because of that, Papa decided to leave them. He went back to Saudi but after couple of months, he received a news that Mama was pregnant by Papa. But, due to a lot of worst scenarios with Mama in the Philippines, Papa didn't believed her.

March 26, 1990 - I came to the earth. I had no father with me.

After a couple of months, when my Aunt found out that my mother is not capable of taking care of us, she took me away from my mother. My old sister, under the custody of my grandmother. All of us was separated from each other. We all got broke.

I was 1 year old here...

I had 6 cousins who took care of me, so I never experienced to be with a whole family since every time that my cousin who is currently taking care of need to settle down, I need to transfer to another cousin who is still single and have more time to take care of me.

I didn't have permanent home. No permanent Mama and Papa to be called. No permanene Ate and Kuya to be called to have bonding with. But through my Aunt Norma, with her sons and daughters, somehow I experience it.

Sooo boyish!

When I was 9 years old at grade 4 level, while playing text cards with my playmates and neighbors, a man came near to me and hugged me. I heard people talking that he was my father. My aunt were there, my cousins were there. They all knew it was my father. So unhesitatingly, I hugged back to that man. I gave away all my play cards because I was so happy at that time. I didn't care about all of it, what's important is I have my father that time!

I was able to have bonding with Papa. We went to Mama's house but just to take my Old sister with us. Papa wanted to have quality time with us. We went to his own house at Caloocan. I've met our grandfather and grandmother, and 3 Uncles. I couldn't deny, I am culture-shocked. I couldn't believe that I still have more relatives outside Bulacan. So we've had a reunion that time.

Every 2 years of contract of work from Saudi, Papa came to Bulacan to take us for 3 - 4 days just to be with him in Caloocan.

Time passed by, when we are older, we're introduced to his second family. I was really feeling so down that time. I thought there is a chance to get our broken family back to whole again. But no, that's what I've got. I cannot change it. All I have to do is to accept it. I respected Papa's decision. I cannot blame him for having another family, for it was his greatest dream, unfortunately, it doesn't happened on the first one. So I accept it, whole heartedly.

(Me, wearing violet, Papa, Ate wearing floral blue, and the twin, boy in red and girl in orange)

I was able to get to know my half-brother and sister. And they are twin! How glad I am to have them! I was able to get to know my stepmother too, she is gentle and cool, very hospitable and accomodating, opposite of what we usually seen on dramas.. So I was with them from college up to now. I'm so glad to and blessed tonhave a family like them. Though they not the original, they still showed me what family really is.

By the way, Mama has his own life. But the sad thing is, she didn't changed. So we just let her live alone as that is what she wanted.

Later on, I found out that they are christians and serving the Lord at a Christian church. They bring me to that church, something changed in me. My whole life and perspective. So my second family helped me grow. I have now a family. From broken, became whole. And we are all growing in faith and in love. I committed my life to the Lord since then.

As my faith grew, I realized that the Lord allowed brokenness in me so that I may experience wholeness. They helped me grow. I never realized that my second family will help me realize how important I am. Out of the chaos I experienced, I never realized that a broken life can become whole again.

I took a course in college and I graduated.

Now I've been married for 5 years and starting to build our own family.

MY LESSON:
It is possible to have a broken family to whole. It may not be our own way, but God's way.

Right now, I decided to be a full-time wife.
I decided to join steemit because I know everyone has a story to tell. I would love to hear other's story and learn from them!

I am Lala, I am a new steemian, my story here have just begun..

Thank you for reading my story!

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