spend more time with family and friends

I have to say, lately I’ve made it a point to visit my parents every other weekend, and to spend time with my friends. I do still need to make an effort with my brother and his family. If they’re not going to do it, it looks like I’ll have to!

I’ve also started accepting more and more invitations to parties/gatherings that I’m invited to, unless of course I already have plans with other people. One thing I do need to work on is initiating the party…I always feel like I’m imposing when I want to get people together! I also wish there were more hours in a day to enjoy the company of all these fabulous people!

Today we are going as a family to Space Center Houston. I can’t tell you when’s the last time my son, husband and I all went somewhere fun together. It’s been a while. So my son is pretty excited. That’s all he’s been talking about since he has gotten up this morning. I know we’re going to have a good time.

seems to be popping up again. Dear old mom has prettty much told me I won’t be welcome in her home when my house sitting jobs are done. Not really certain why… but we haven’t lived together since the summer I graduated from high school. We couldn’t wait to part company then…seems nothing has much changed there.

I went off and built my life in Texas. This sabbatical living closer and sharing time has been nice as long as everyone could keep their distance but why press the issues?

Some things never change and life is too short to let them get you down.

such a blessing here in the wilderness. It seems that God has blessed me with many beautiful,vivacious, fun-loving, entrepreneural women friends. I didn’t have those types of friendships in Texas. But it was a different season in my life when I was there.

It seems instead of being in competition they support each others’ businesses and ambition. I’m happy to be their friend. :)

3 months this summer…with my friends and family..
..with absolutely no plans …wow i cant wait !!

My absolute favorite foods! My step dad made a creamy whitefish chowder and my mom baked me a chocolate cake for my birthday dinner. My son sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

I’m glad I have spent this year living close to my mother. We had been estranged for far too long. We all mellow with age.

this is the first “family” weekend I have attended since my brother passed away in 2004. I feel like Stuart Smalley. :)

Luckily my family stopped drinking a few years ago due to health reasons. I’m thinking it won’t be so bad now…nothing to agitate angry outbursts.

Who knows? It may be fun.

I knew this from a very young age. That is why I moved across the country from them.

My mother especially knows how to make me feel bad….no solutions but plenty of what are you going to do now? Go back to Texas where you know how to do this? I was livid! The business isn’t any different. It is a matter of relocation and getting to know people here.

This is the first holiday I will be spending with them in a very very long time. I called a friend here who has introduced me to Al Anon and she told me to just take it one day at a time.

If anyone starts criticizing or offering their opinion just say I am taking each day as it comes and for now I just want a quiet holiday celebration. Sounds like a healthy response. Hope I can just say that and not let them get under my skin.

I called to wish her a happy birthday. My son and the children had just brought her lunch…she is a cosmetologist…so she works 1/2 days on Saturday making people beautiful.

When she is off they are going to buy a new Christmas tree. She plans to give their older one to the Salvation Army for a family that needs one. She has allergies so they have to have an artificial tree.

Then they are going shopping for her birthday present and my son is taking her out to dinner and dancing.

Sounds like a very full day for her! She is a wonderful girl…

My son is a very happy, lucky man. :)

_{picture of our beautiful birthday girl and her dad}

I would be spending Thanksgiving this year with my mother and family in Montana I would have laughed. You see I haven’t had Thanksgiving with my mom since I was a teenager…many, many years ago.

We always talked on holidays but I had my life in Texas and they had theirs here.

I know it’s just a meal and we just had dinner at my mom’s last Sunday afternoon…

But I am really excited about this!!!