Comments for Brandon and Sam's Blog http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog Random stuff we think is worth sharing Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:34:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on INSANITY Food Tip [Brandon Middleton] by admin http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/insanity-challenge/insanity-food-tip-brandon-middleton/comment-page-1/#comment-110 admin Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:34:42 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=263#comment-110 Hey guys! Thanks for all the support, advise, and kind words. I contacted my father last Friday and it was a little awkward at first. He was elated to hear from me and we caught up a little. He is 51 and is a hairdresser in Gainesville, FL. He had another son when I was 13 who I have just connected with on facebook. He is now 13 and seems like a cool kid. Apparently, I did not get my geekyness from my father because he has never owned a computer (although I think he will soon) and just got an email address and facebook account this week! Crazy! I guess that explains why he never thought to google me ;) We have spoken again since last week and have agreed that it will take time to get to know each other. I have no expectations but I am open to whatever happens. I'll update the blog as things happen. -Brandon Hey guys!

Thanks for all the support, advise, and kind words.

I contacted my father last Friday and it was a little awkward at first. He was elated to hear from me and we caught up a little.

He is 51 and is a hairdresser in Gainesville, FL. He had another son when I was 13 who I have just connected with on facebook. He is now 13 and seems like a cool kid.

Apparently, I did not get my geekyness from my father because he has never owned a computer (although I think he will soon) and just got an email address and facebook account this week! Crazy! I guess that explains why he never thought to google me ;)

We have spoken again since last week and have agreed that it will take time to get to know each other. I have no expectations but I am open to whatever happens.

I’ll update the blog as things happen.

-Brandon

]]> Comment on Videos by Charla ( Your dads sis ) http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/videos/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Charla ( Your dads sis ) Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:09:46 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?page_id=98#comment-96 Both you and Sam are a very good looking Pair.. Remember to tell each other you love them everyday, hold hands whenever possible, Look into each others eyes and remember just why it was and is you FELL in Love in the 1st place.. Love to you both...Auntie Charla. Both you and Sam are a very good looking Pair.. Remember to tell each other you love them everyday, hold hands whenever possible, Look into each others eyes and remember just why it was and is you FELL in Love in the 1st place.. Love to you both…Auntie Charla.

]]> Comment on INSANITY Day 11 by Charla ( Your dads sis ) http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/insanity-challenge/insanity-day-11/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Charla ( Your dads sis ) Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:59:49 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=280#comment-95 I am so tickled Tom Finally found you. We have all been looking for you for soooo long now. I still have some of your pictures..You will Love your Little brother Justin. He is 13 I think. Yikes, watch out!!!!! You have a very large family Brandon that at 18 months you wouldn't remember any of us much anyway but we won't hold that against you...Can't wait to meet you. Your dad cried the whole time he was talking with me after he talked with you.. Look me up on Facebook. Charla Murphy Bynum and you can see my family there. I'd better skoot off to bed. Been a real treat talking at ya Brandon. Love ,Charla I am so tickled Tom Finally found you. We have all been looking for you for soooo long now. I still have some of your pictures..You will Love your Little brother Justin. He is 13 I think. Yikes, watch out!!!!! You have a very large family Brandon that at 18 months you wouldn’t remember any of us much anyway but we won’t hold that against you…Can’t wait to meet you. Your dad cried the whole time he was talking with me after he talked with you.. Look me up on Facebook. Charla Murphy Bynum and you can see my family there. I’d better skoot off to bed. Been a real treat talking at ya Brandon. Love ,Charla

]]> Comment on INSANITY Food Tip [Brandon Middleton] by Rick http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/insanity-challenge/insanity-food-tip-brandon-middleton/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Rick Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:53:04 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=263#comment-93 Hey Brandon, You are without a doubt one of the nicest people I know and are so talented, loving and fun. I am proud to call you a friend and would be proud if Andrew, my son, turns out to be as great as you are. I have no idea the circumstance around your father and why he wasn't a part of your life, and actually do not know first hand what that would be like at all from your perspective, but all I can do is share from a few experiences that I have had and or witnessed with my friends. While going through the Landmark Forum, I witnessed many situations involving people that were in your situation and also from some people that were in the position of your mother and even a few that sounded at least similar to your dad's perspective. Through the education they were given the tools to separate what actually happened (the facts) from what they made that mean. It was quite powerful for all parties involved and I heard about and witnessed some incredible reunions and conversations about reuniting and getting to know one another as adults. One thing I kept hearing about in these conversations, and was reiterated in a recent viewing of Steve Martin's classic Father of the Bride, was that they pointed out how young some of these parents were compared to people in the audience and even myself at those age levels. It doesn't make any of it alright, but it certainly added new perspective to the matter. I personally would be open to hearing the person out and just knowing I was in control and I could stop and always return to what it is like right now. Hold the possibility that something magical can happen and it might turn out to be something incredible in your life as you move forward. Whatever you decided to do, I support you and will continue loving you just as you are. Sincerely, Rick Hey Brandon,
You are without a doubt one of the nicest people I know and are so talented, loving and fun. I am proud to call you a friend and would be proud if Andrew, my son, turns out to be as great as you are. I have no idea the circumstance around your father and why he wasn’t a part of your life, and actually do not know first hand what that would be like at all from your perspective, but all I can do is share from a few experiences that I have had and or witnessed with my friends.

While going through the Landmark Forum, I witnessed many situations involving people that were in your situation and also from some people that were in the position of your mother and even a few that sounded at least similar to your dad’s perspective. Through the education they were given the tools to separate what actually happened (the facts) from what they made that mean. It was quite powerful for all parties involved and I heard about and witnessed some incredible reunions and conversations about reuniting and getting to know one another as adults.

One thing I kept hearing about in these conversations, and was reiterated in a recent viewing of Steve Martin’s classic Father of the Bride, was that they pointed out how young some of these parents were compared to people in the audience and even myself at those age levels. It doesn’t make any of it alright, but it certainly added new perspective to the matter.

I personally would be open to hearing the person out and just knowing I was in control and I could stop and always return to what it is like right now. Hold the possibility that something magical can happen and it might turn out to be something incredible in your life as you move forward.

Whatever you decided to do, I support you and will continue loving you just as you are.

Sincerely,
Rick

]]> Comment on INSANITY Food Tip [Brandon Middleton] by Kris http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/insanity-challenge/insanity-food-tip-brandon-middleton/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Kris Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:04:58 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=263#comment-92 B (and potential "father" who may now be reading these posts), My birth mother left when I was 2. Only had a handful of visits with her all mostly in the first couple years after the divorce. While very close to her parents, I had no real relationship with her. (she's lived in Kentucky fro 15yrs or so) As an adult, when her parents, my grandparents (duh) got sick, Kelly and I were the closest and main caretakers. This gave me the ability to get to know my birth vessel as an adult. Here is my piece of wisdom: 1: Parents did what they did when they were young, scared and dumb. It made me who I am today. You know what looking into the past does to going forward. 2: Having the option to make my own adult decision based on who the other person is NOW allowed me to let go of pain from the past. 3: Result: My birth mother was only a vessel, letting me down twice in 2 weeks when grandparents were deathly ill, more times since then. I have zero communication with her by my choice. And I am o.k. with it Friends of ours were having this conversation just Sunday night. It was about Step-parents, Blood Parents and how we see them and who deserves what. To me, bloodline give you the ability to forgive and/or give someone more chances to prove themselves. And, in the end, we have the choice to drop the toxic relationships and keep our relationships that are beneficial. Blood doesn't make you family, it just gives you more shots to prove yourself as. Without a "past" or history of friendship, bonding and truth, regardless of bloodline, I do not have a connection. Nor do I have to. I am happy I had, and still have the choice. P.S. I do have a better understanding and insight into what may "really" of happened during my early years of life. I know have "more sides to the coin" Your decision will be the right one Kris B (and potential “father” who may now be reading these posts),

My birth mother left when I was 2. Only had a handful of visits with her all mostly in the first couple years after the divorce. While very close to her parents, I had no real relationship with her. (she’s lived in Kentucky fro 15yrs or so)

As an adult, when her parents, my grandparents (duh) got sick, Kelly and I were the closest and main caretakers. This gave me the ability to get to know my birth vessel as an adult. Here is my piece of wisdom:
1: Parents did what they did when they were young, scared and dumb. It made me who I am today. You know what looking into the past does to going forward.
2: Having the option to make my own adult decision based on who the other person is NOW allowed me to let go of pain from the past.
3: Result: My birth mother was only a vessel, letting me down twice in 2 weeks when grandparents were deathly ill, more times since then. I have zero communication with her by my choice. And I am o.k. with it

Friends of ours were having this conversation just Sunday night. It was about Step-parents, Blood Parents and how we see them and who deserves what.

To me, bloodline give you the ability to forgive and/or give someone more chances to prove themselves. And, in the end, we have the choice to drop the toxic relationships and keep our relationships that are beneficial. Blood doesn’t make you family, it just gives you more shots to prove yourself as.

Without a “past” or history of friendship, bonding and truth, regardless of bloodline, I do not have a connection. Nor do I have to.

I am happy I had, and still have the choice.

P.S. I do have a better understanding and insight into what may “really” of happened during my early years of life. I know have “more sides to the coin”

Your decision will be the right one
Kris

]]> Comment on INSANITY Food Tip [Brandon Middleton] by kelly http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/insanity-challenge/insanity-food-tip-brandon-middleton/comment-page-1/#comment-91 kelly Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:35:31 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=263#comment-91 well brandon....this is a decision that you and only you can make! i have known you for a very long time and i know that you turned out to be a great person because of the great people that raised you! your mom was truly an awesome woman and a great mother! as you probably already know i did not have my father in my life as a child and when he recently suffered a heart attack and went through a triple bypass i decided i would give it a try....its been going great! but again you dont even know that this is true but if it is you need to ask yourself what you want! but he is the bad guy because he chose not to help raise you and if you do choose to meet him if its real tell him upfront you will not let him bad talk your mother or say anything was her fault!!!!! love always, kelly well brandon….this is a decision that you and only you can make! i have known you for a very long time and i know that you turned out to be a great person because of the great people that raised you! your mom was truly an awesome woman and a great mother! as you probably already know i did not have my father in my life as a child and when he recently suffered a heart attack and went through a triple bypass i decided i would give it a try….its been going great! but again you dont even know that this is true but if it is you need to ask yourself what you want! but he is the bad guy because he chose not to help raise you and if you do choose to meet him if its real tell him upfront you will not let him bad talk your mother or say anything was her fault!!!!! love always, kelly

]]> Comment on INSANITY Food Tip [Brandon Middleton] by admin http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/insanity-challenge/insanity-food-tip-brandon-middleton/comment-page-1/#comment-90 admin Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:11:53 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=263#comment-90 Wow...I could count on my hands how many times this guy has attempted to connect with me in 26 years. After reading this post comment, what are your thoughts? Is my father going through some mid-life crisis and feeling sorry for Himself? Could he possibly understand how badly he has failed at providing for his 1st born son? Those of you that know me know that my mom & grandparents sacrificed everything for my brother and I. I miss my mom more than anything. Dispite his shortcomings as a father, should I forgive him and work towards a future relationship or focus my time on the the amazing friends and family that are already surrounding me...or both? Your comments are appreciated. -B Wow…I could count on my hands how many times this guy has attempted to connect with me in 26 years. After reading this post comment, what are your thoughts? Is my father going through some mid-life crisis and feeling sorry for Himself? Could he possibly understand how badly he has failed at providing for his 1st born son? Those of you that know me know that my mom & grandparents sacrificed everything for my brother and I. I miss my mom more than anything. Dispite his shortcomings as a father, should I forgive him and work towards a future relationship or focus my time on the the amazing friends and family that are already surrounding me…or both? Your comments are appreciated.

-B

]]> Comment on INSANITY Food Tip [Brandon Middleton] by Anonymous http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/insanity-challenge/insanity-food-tip-brandon-middleton/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Anonymous Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:33:44 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=263#comment-89 Brandon, A man who is named Thomas Murphy, who claims to be your father, is looking for you. He said he is in Gainesville, Florida. His last address for you was/is Tarpon Springs or Wesley Chapel, Florida. He said he came to Gainesville, Florida to find you, to no avail. He said he's not the bad guy you might think he is and that he really needs to find you to talk with you in great depth. I do not know this man but he almost pleading. His phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. How he got my unlisted phone number I have no clue? He just happened to connect with a person who also has a 24 year old son named Brandon. He asked me to please help him find you. So I googled your name. I tracked you down through the name this man gave me that was your mother's name, on people find. This is not a prank post ... it's legit. He's now aware of your blog but not your phone or address. You seem like a really nice guy. There are no coincidences in this life, of that I am sure. I leave the rest up to you what you choose to do. Best wishes to you... Anon. Brandon,
A man who is named Thomas Murphy, who claims to be your father, is looking for you. He said he is in Gainesville, Florida. His last address for you was/is Tarpon Springs or Wesley Chapel, Florida. He said he came to Gainesville, Florida to find you, to no avail. He said he’s not the bad guy you might think he is and that he really needs to find you to talk with you in great depth. I do not know this man but he almost pleading. His phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. How he got my unlisted phone number I have no clue? He just happened to connect with a person who also has a 24 year old son named Brandon. He asked me to please help him find you. So I googled your name. I tracked you down through the name this man gave me that was your mother’s name, on people find. This is not a prank post … it’s legit. He’s now aware of your blog but not your phone or address. You seem like a really nice guy. There are no coincidences in this life, of that I am sure. I leave the rest up to you what you choose to do. Best wishes to you… Anon.

]]> Comment on Fun in Mexico by admin http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/uncategorized/fun-in-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-82 admin Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:49:41 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=183#comment-82 More testing here... More testing here…

]]> Comment on Fun in Mexico by admin http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/uncategorized/fun-in-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-80 admin Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:17:56 +0000 http://brandonandsam.com/wpblog/?p=183#comment-80 Updating our BrandonAndSam.com blog to now connect with Facebook. Now you can register to our site with your facebook account. Try it out and let us know how you like it. More updates coming soon! Updating our BrandonAndSam.com blog to now connect with Facebook. Now you can register to our site with your facebook account. Try it out and let us know how you like it. More updates coming soon!

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