A big HOWDY from Texas!!
I'm enjoying some time here with my family in Texas this week. My middle sister has moved down here too, so when I come to see my family I mean I come to see my FAMILY!!! My big sister lives about 15 minutes away from my dad and my middle sister lives only 2 minutes away from her!!! It works out really nice. They all have someone to watch over things if they are out of town, if they need something and the other is in town they pick it up for them....It works out really nice. They are all here to look after each other!!
We have had fun just being silly together. It's been an enjoyable week just chillin' and visitin'. My middle sister brought some books over and I saw a craft that I just HAD to do - they are flowers made from silver plated flatware. I know it sounds crazy, but you would have to really see them to appreciate them (but you can't see them until I get home cuz I can't download the 500 pictures that I've already taken). So, my sister had the flatware and I had the plan and my dad had the tools to complete it, and my other sister had the beads to decorate them....so it was truly a family activity! My dad has this great work room/shack that he builds all of his airplanes in. He has all of the tools you would ever need and has all the ideas in his head of how to accomplish them. I told him that he reminds me of my husband. Lane always helps me figure out how to get from point A to point B using his creative mind...my crafts are his crafts...
Today we went to see my sister's new office. She will be teaching SPED classes at Texas AM in Commerce, TX. While she was out visiting with a colleague, Pam, my dad and I decided to make her office feel like home. There was a name plate hanging outside her door. We found some labels, so we covered up the name 'price' and used a magic marker to make it read 'Dr. Harader'. We also made her a 'welcome' sign from an old dingy chart board. We dug around and found her folders, a groovy 1950's green tape dispenser, an old pink message pad and a few coffee cups/shot glasses to complete the look. We rearranged her furniture to a more 'fung shui' look and the place already felt like hers...maybe just to us...I can't even describe the funky stuff we found to put together her desk...I'll show pix next time...
Tomorrow, my sister leaves for her last ? trip to Kentucky so we said our 'goodbyes' tonight - sadness...She is a tough cookie - strong, smart, caring and soft...(Thanks for everything while I was in town. I know that you had a lot going on w/unpacking and settling in, but thanks for taking the time out! I love you!)
My big sister, dad and I are headed to the 'city' to poke around a little tomorrow. I've not been to a mall in ages and what better to do on a vacation than do crazy things like that, right??
I found a great old picture of my mom when I was at my big sisters house. There had been pictures of her 'eyeing' this big tree on the other side of a wire fence. The tree had soooo many fall leaves on it and it seemed to be the only one (or the first to recognize the season) by the picture. As you go through the pictures the very last one is of her grinning, walking towards the camera with a handful of leaves...She had managed to conquer getting to that tree and getting what she wanted. It was a great picture as she had this playful little grin on her face as she came towards my dad and the camera. Looking through all of the pictures at my sisters' there were one right after the other of her and my dad laughing. It was really nice to see and remember that silly side of her as we (I) hadn't remembered that for a long time. The last few times I saw her she was week and seemed mad about it. She wasn't able to be silly - I'm not sure if she could hear me or understand the silly stories we were telling at the kitchen table...I do know that after this week, I am able to understand/remember a lot of good things about her. I just know that she would have come up with some great ideas for Dana's office 'redecorating'...She would have been laughing with tears and we all would have been rolling...I really miss her. But, I'm glad that my sisters and I can still enjoy our time and my dad is now more a part of our time together. That has been the best part of this week. Being with my dad...
My husband and I have been communicating through the phone and texting. I really miss him, too. We are ALWAYS together and trips just aren't the same without him. We made the right decisions about him not coming this time even though it wasn't a fun decision...It's never quite the same 'telling' someone about a funny moment or a serious moment especially when you are used to having them be a part of those moments...We'll re-strategize next year!!
I got to see my niece and her fabulous kids this week, too. She is really going through some hard times and all of us want to help her. She has kinda kept to herself about everything so we aren't sure what we can/should do for her. I know that she has a best friend that she can talk to, but it's her family that can be objective and can give her the best advice as we have ALL been through it...I'm sure when she's ready she'll come around...
Well, I'm not sure what else to share. I know that I'll share pix when I get home (Friday) so you can see the things I'm talking about...
Until then, enjoy your family, miss your family and love your family. They are what make you who you really are and who you really should be...
I'll see you soon, honey!
Jill
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