Day 26 of Williams/Bradfort Family Therapy Support Network

Now was Thomas's turn for his three issues, he said how much he loved and appreciated his 3 children and for them to not change for anyone! There were 3 yeahs to this issue Emelie read. Then to the issue of needing more helpful activities to alleviate depression and anxiety issues, there were 6 yeahs to this issue also. Then to the issue of all the music being played and that he liked every one's music and we're not to argue over it. There were 6 votes of yeah for this as well. Emelie told Thomas to take what his family has voted and be secure, in how he deals with it from there on out. They now listened to " Redneck Woman" by Gretchen Wilson. Then Emelie asked that they put in three more issues they were having trouble with, that she would file for voting on the following week. They cleaned up. End of Day 26

Day 25 Williams/Bradfort Families Therapy

Today was Bella's turn for her 3 issues, Emelie passed out the voter ballots. Standing with the top hat waiting, while they listened to Cher sing, "Do You Believe In Life After Love". She collected the ballots in Grandpa's old top hat, then tallied up the scores. She read them. Number one, received her feelings of hurt and anger about some decisions concerning Emelie's living situation back at home again. There were 5 nays that this was not a bad thing for Emelie but a good thing and 1 yeah, of course from Bella,they all knew. Number two, Bella believed she understood there disabilities, well enough, since going through a physical impairment of her own everyday. There were 5 nays and 1 yeah, the yeah again probably was Bella's. Bella believes that certain person's are taking advantage of other family members financially. There were 5 nays and only 1 yeah, the one yeah being Bella's again. Emelie told Bella now feel secure in what your family has voted today, and do with it what you think is best for everyone involved. They cleaned up the meeting room listening to, Gretchen Wilson's,"Here For The Party" one of Janie's C.D.'s. End of Day 25

Day 24 William/Bradfort Families Therapy Network

Today they listened to Pussycat Dolls "I Hate This Part" Emelie's CD. They voted on Janie's 3 issues. Number 1, her children must grow up more, and know that you cannot fully understand another's disabilities unless you are that person. Number 2, do not worry so much about Dad and Grandpa's health issues, this makes it harder on them not easier. Number 3, it's very mature how Aiden and Winnie are handling there family issues and she's very proud of them. Emelie collected the voters ballots in the big top hat, then tallied the scores up. She read the votes, there were 4 yeahs and 2 neys to the issue of them maturing more now, and realizing they just can't know what another person is going through unless you are that person. There were 6 votes for yeah, they did understand worrying made things much harder on Dad and Grandpa. There were 6 votes for yeah, Aiden and Winnie are handling there family issues very well. Emelie said, so, Mom you can now take with you how your family has voted on your issues, and move forward in the way you see to be the best for all. They cleaned up the meeting room, while listening to Thoma's ACDC C.D,"Dirty Jobs Done Dirt Cheep." End of Day 24

Day 23 Williams/Bradfort Families Therapy Network Support

Emelie choose her own 3 issues to go through this day. listened to Madonna's "Like A Virgin" CD. Number one, she read. The control, that she had no say in the matter of where she lived or not. Number 2, she felt Bella did understand the families disabilities allot more than she let on, she just didn't want to hurt feelings or alienate certain family members. Number 3, left behind, yet totally unprepared to move forward, as of yet anyway. Then she passed out the voters cards, they voted, then she collected them in the old top hat. She talied up the scores. There were 5 nays to she had no say on were she lived and 1 yeah obviously her own yeah, that she indeed did not have any say. Then only one yeah, to that Bella did understand and 5 nays that she did not understand much at all yet. Then, 6 yeahs, surprisingly to the fact that she was left behind, yet not yet ready to move forward, as of yet anyway. So, clearly Emelie had more to think about here, but she still did feel confident in some of what she already knew to be true here, as well. They ended the meeting listening to Aiden's Nirvana, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" CD. End of Day 23

Day 22 Williams/Bradfort Families Therapy Support Network

Emelie and Bella decided this would finally be the spa therapy day, which they are planning on having more of for sure! They brought in allot of supplies. They would still vote on a vote on a family members 3 issues of course, only now, while in a soothing spa atmosphere. There sounds of a waterfall and beautiful birds singing from a nature CD of Emelies, mud masks, foot soaks, facial toners and relaxers, exfoliaters. Pedicure and manicure equipment, hot towels steaming. Everything they could think of. So everyone except Emelie, the busy vote taker, was now soaking there feet in a rose bomb oil and had a facial mask on with a towel wrapped around there faces. Also, they all wore terry clothe robes with little matching slippers! Of course, they would still need to vote. This time Grandpa Alan's file came up. She read. Number 1, some things should be left unsaid, so not to hurt a loved ones feelings too much. Number 2 activities are helping, but we need more of them. Number 3, don't get your feeling hurt too much, if someones just kidding. She passed around the voters ballots they all voted, carefully not to drop the towels from there faces. Emelie picked up the ballots in the old top hat. Then talied them all up again. She read the results. Number 1 received 6 votes for yeah. You should keep quiet not to hurt a loved one. Number 2 received 6 votes for yeah. We should have more activities since they do help are therapy meetings. Number 3 received 4 votes yeah and 2 votes for ney. Not everyone can take a joke as well as someone else might. So, Grandpa Alan take with you and be secure, in what your family has voted here today. Then do with it the best in your nature to do. They cleaned up all the spa stuff, and decided they would most definitely have another spa day! It just relaxed them all, and they felt so comfortable. End of Day 22

Day 21 Williams/Bradfort Families Therapy

Emelie walked in the meeting room and smiled as she watched her sister watering there sunflowers. The flowers were taller now and about to bloom. Bella was listening to a Taylor Swift CD and singing along to "You Belong With Me". Emelie knew it was long overdue to bring out the three issues folder, Dad's hospital stay had put it off a little longer than she had wanted. Now she felt the last person to bring the subject up, still she also knew they mostly understood, unlike how the Bradforts would react to her, they knew and understood her in a way the Bradforts just plain refused to even try to. So, she started with Aiden's 3 issues. She didn't need to read them but she did. Number one, he supported Emelie living with Mom and Dad, number 2 Winnie couldn't join in meetings, she had her own family crisis to deal with as well. Number 3 Bella was still too naive when it came to therapy, to understand fully what they all went through each day. We will only work through one person's issues per meeting, due to lack of time. Emelie said. So, we will vote using a ballot system of yeah or ne. Emelie passed out the slips of paper containing all three of Aiden's issues, with little boxes they were to check for yeah or ne. When they had all voted she collected them in a top hat of Grandpa's. She pulled from the hat the six pieces of paper, then talied up the scores. Which came to five votes of yeah, to Emelie being supported living back at home again. Then 6 votes of yeah, that Winnie should should deal with her family issues and not worry about Aidens much. Then 5 votes of yeah, Bella did not fully understand all of there therapy issues, since she was so new to it all still. Emelie says,"So, then Aiden take with you how your family has voted, and feel secure in your ways of dealing with these issues from here on. They ended the meeting listening to Garth Brooks, "Friends In Low Places". End of Day 21

Day 20 Williams/Bradfort Families Therapy Support Network

Well good old pops made it into there family meeting room today. Janie insisted on washing his hair and that his shirt fully covered up his belly, as usual, plus the hulling on of those awful T.E.D. hose! Those in health care know what I mean, or those who have to wear them. Emelie and Bella had declared this a day to remember all they had been through together, and if angry about anything at all you had two choices. Go beat the clown, or burn it in the fire place. Burning might be better since they were sure they would need to replace Mr. Clown soon. He was definitely on his last leg! That was o.k. they would replace him a million times over just to avoid fighting with there loved ones. Now Fleetwood Mac played "Landslide" one of Emilies Cd's. If you choose the let out emotions through your tears option, or maybe through creativity, they had other activities for that too. Janie choose to go cry with Emelie, while Aiden, Bella, Grandpa Alan and Thomas went to there creative corners at the big old work table. As Emelie held her Mothers hand and wept in the corner for what felt like years, more than minutes. She watched the others slowly and much too quietly and very somberly drawing and piecing bits of there own lives back together, were at all possible. She felt as though something slowly, yet surely wild and crazy was surely about to snap loose in the group of them, and she knew exactly what direction it would snap too! Aiden and Bella, the sibling wars there was so deep and thick it was like getting lost in a quick sand, only much much worse. They pretended to enjoy it so nobody would really know right? Whatever! Emelie thought to herself. The little spoiled brats! Then the horror came to her this awful thing about to snap wasn't them at all! It was coming from inside of her own mind, her heart, her very spirit! She yanked her hand away from Janie, Janie's eyes opened wide with horror! Janie had seen this look on Emelies face many times before and it always meant something really bad was going to happen! So she tried to pull her daughter back to her, she couldn't Emelie's rage inside was much to strong for her, and then Emelie did what they would have all considered a total sacrilege to the now very spiritual meetings. Emelie left. She not only up and left, but she didn't look or speak to anyone she just left. They all had looks of total and utter shock on there faces for short brief seconds, until Janie quietly came over to the table and grabbed both Grandpa Alan and Thomas's hands in a prayer like fashion. Then she said,"now I don't want any of you to be mad at Emelie right now, she is coming back, I'v seen her like this before, then Thomas whispered an "oh shit" under his breath that everyone heard. They all knew what Emelie was about to try and do now. She'd been trying for years with not much success, to become a part of her biological family the Bradforts, she had another half brother, and Grandparents, Aunts,Uncles,many cousins, ect... She just didn't fit with there all American family lifestyle. They were all in Government service and married with children. Emelie always felt like the odd ball out. Except for her younger brother Jacob, thank goodness for him! He was now in his early 20's a young man. He was the only real tie she felt held her anywhere near them at all. His Mother was very sick, like her Dad. They had everything in common. it seemed anyway. She felt too modern of a thinker for the Bradforts. They did everything the old fashioned way, the only way, she knew that was there thinking. Which made her an outsider. They got married, had a stable carreer, bought a home, then had children, who would then help on the grand old Bradfort land while going to school. Payed service to God and country then were able to die peacefully. Emelie was raised by Hippies, who played with her outside on the lawns of the public parks,next to all there friends cameros and bikes. They hugged and kissed her allot and totally reeked of pot. Yet, she always felt she belonged, she couldn't feel that with the Bradforts, it always felt as though they were secretly judging her. Janie and Thomas loved her just the way she was, and she could be herself with them comfortably. The anger she felt towards Aiden and Bella was because, they were so very lucky to never have to feel this kind of pain, this kind of rejection. Which she knew that it was from the Bradforts. Then the jealousy that they had a Mom and Dad both at all, she knew that they took it for granted. She never would! She had lost enough already! Dam it! So, she started the family therapy meeting to save what little she believed she had left in this world to hold dear. Now they just sat there and cryed like little babies, and played arts and crafts! They didn't even try to get better at all! What the F--- were these meetings anyway Kindergarten classes! "Jesus"! She screamed as she came flying back into the room. She slammed her hands down on the big table and yelled. " Don't any of you care about your sad little pathetic lives at all! This isn't trying at all, it's just making it through another sorry for myself day! That's all it is! She screamed. Janie came to her side to quiet her, but that made things so much worse! Emelie screamed this time jamming a finger nearly into Janie's eye "And you! Your just about the worst of them! Cheering them on to this! This nothingness, until they all just leave us alone anyway! Oh who the F--- cares just let em' leave! I don't care anymore! I'm done with you all! Then as she yelled that,Grandpa Alan, slowly got up walked over to her and put his arms around her to hug her. He said, "Your my kind of family with guts to say all that for sure, I'm so glad you said it before me though cause I really don't think I can get away with it as good as you can! My dear sweet Emelie none of you gets to be done here before me, I just won't allow it! Then he sat and started on his oxygen nebulas. Emelie thought a minute, then began to cry and sob more and went back to were she had been sitting with Janie to start from. Janie smiled, and looked at them all with her I told you so eyes. Then kissed Grandpa Alan on the cheek,and whispered "thank you" to him. He just winked, smiled a bit. Then Janie was back holding Emelies hand and crying. Only now Aiden and Bella felt it was there time to leave, it was just too much for them to except all at once. End of Day 20

Day 19 Williams/Bradfort family Therapy Support Network

Aiden continued to add to " The Healing Wall" his pictures of different ancient symbols surrounding huge mean looking waring angels like men. During there meetings, while Bella and Emelie countered these with little colorful faeries flying around in big beautiful flower gardens, and beautiful strong angels with halos singing and playing instruments to comfort the world. It was quite the sight to behold now this massive wall of healing, now seemed a seen of what Micheal Angelo thought of heaven, sort of. With there painted candles burning in little groups all around the large room, Grandpa Alan had insisted in keeping a fire extinguisher on hand. Just in case the candles got out of control. Tossing affirmations into the little fire place, from there now heaping full affirmation pails. Watching them slowly burn away hopefully forever. Meditations and prayers for Dads quick recovery, Janie started this then the rest joined in. They listened to the music of Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)". They all knew however sad, that this would not happen until they all cracked the whip, about the family weight loss programs, and more exercise! It was the only way. How to get him to go along with it though, they were at a loss, except for to tell him he must do this to stay alive and see his grandchildren, that was the only way, they knew. They cleaned up the meeting room, feeling lost as little children, with the lights of the candles dimming down to nothingness. End of Day 19

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Day 18 William/Bradfort Families Therapy Support Network

Today still in full Hawaiian meditation. Aiden did were the grass skirt, just to say hey I'm a secure man alright. Emelie's thoughts still somehow drift to, Grandpa Alan, and his hospital bed and serving table in the front room of this huge old house. He is always preparing for death, his stakes of at home church sermons that he insists on listening to sometimes, for all to hear. Janie fully pretends to agree with, but it doesn't fool her children not for one New York second! Emelie believes in many angels of all kinds and a massive heaven much bigger indeed than are small earth ever thought of being, with many grecko Roman type buildings, Gods many houses, waiting for us. Were we all worship in duality a male and female God, and live and work much as as we do today, plus a massive eden type garden heaven is there also, with a huge meditation skyscraper if you choose to just take a break for a while from your existance in heaven, you can stay as long as you want, yet God will be with you always no matter what. With the holy spirit, and your guardian angel or spirit guide if you so choose to have a guide or angel while on "break". Emelie is a very spiritually complex creature, in comparison to the rest of her family, except Bella, who is just mid-way excepting of all of this as it is. Yet, that support means the world to Emelie, still she couldn't stop her way of believing about life and death now even if she wanted to. So Janie is in full grass skirt with them today, yet she snuck some alcohol in her juice through a flask of Bella's. They never approved of Emelies prohibition laws in the sanctuary, especially under a personal crisis. So they all began to drink, even Grandpa Alan, and lighten up! It was the best meeting by far in days! They could all feel the stress and tensions just floating away. They cleaned up the meeting room, Janie said, " Dad won't join us for a while two weeks at least, but I am giving him full reports of all goings on here. That meant clearly watch your tempers and behave! Or no more meetings period, because we love and care for you all that much! Yet, they had no reason at all to worry, none of them planned on messing this extremely healthy and cathartic environment up for themselves! Especially Grandpa Alan, they all kept him far from that old hospital bed he just dreaded so much! End of Day 18

Day 17 Williams/Bradfort Families therapy support network

So Dad is coming home after today's meeting. Mom had called and informed Emelie. Bella and Aiden hugged each other. Aiden in tears, Bella the strong one never wavered. Emelie having more serious anxiety attacks however, about everything in life in general not even necessarily about her Dad. This helps her not to feel the pain too intensely. Just go with the anxieties instead. Dad will have a couple weeks down time like he does after every hospital visit. Which never helps him loose any of the weight, of course. It's so hard, but sometimes his three children couldn't tell anymore who's health really was worse off Grandpa or Dad's. There Dad was much too young for all of this! It hurt and made them mad, at the same time, to no longer have there Dad as an active part of there every day lives. He was when they were little, even when they were impossible teenagers. Now, only every now and again, getting to be less and less all the time. Then Grandpa Alan of course being the big teaser, and even a bit of a naughty little stinker, if you will. Said, "You should be planning and preparing each other for what you will do in the event of your Fathers death, Hee! Hee! You just never know! Hee! Hee! They knew he was just kidding, yet they knew how utterly insensitive there Grandpa could be at times. So there was more silence and allot of prayer. Janie was highly missed, there family cheerleader, she always knew what to say or do usually to lighten a mood, but Dad was the foundation that held them all together somehow. It was all mystical and spiritual, this feeling of family they had brought to this once grand dining room of there Grandparents, that they had all inherited. They almost couldn't wait for outside influences into there sacred place now. Not quite yet though, they weren't ready to go it alone yet without there rock, Bella would do one day, but not quite yet. Today Emelie had decided on the best way she could to create what she'd heard called a stay-cation. They had a little tiki bar set up, and grass skirts, and cute little cocktail glasses, no alcohol allowed of course, lots of different flavored juices, however. Hawaiian music, and little hummingbird hanging lights at least five strings of them. So now they all three lay on bamboo lounge chairs, and drink pineapple, coconut, and kiwi drinks. While meditating on positive affirmations. Grandpa Alan sat looking at them, shaking his head and mumbling negatives under his breath, about how they were reacting about there Dad's conditions. This was how they maintained best though, he just didn't get it! They listened to the Hawiian music through the whole meeting. Then cleaned up all there stay-cation equipment and put it away for safe keeping in case of the next huge family crisis, when they needed to pull together this way, or maybe even more so. End Day 17