A Weekend Break

I am still on medication, but I am definitely on the mend. I can't wait to get the test results back so I know what I am dealing with and we can fix it! Friday night I went shopping with my daughter and then home to cookout. Just as we were wrapping up a late night grill session and getting ready to sit down, the doorbell rang. My crazy, ineffectual neighbor showed up with her 10 yr. daughter -- locked out. The whole scenario was weird. I think if we hadn't pushed for her to call her husband to see if he was home with the other two children, she'd have stayed the night. We finally convinced her to go check if he was home after three unanswered calls. We told her to leave her daughter with us until she got home and knew if she could get in. We got a call a few minutes later, yeah, he was home. So my daughter walked her's home and we finally ate our meal at 8:30PM! 

Now what husband comes home after his wife and daughter, walks in the door and sees they're not there, and doesn't freak out about where the other half of his family is????? I tell you, there is a story in this situation. One I am afraid isn't good. But what to do? I feel for the children. But I don't know what is going on other than idiocy and complete lack of planning. These two shouldn't have had one child, let alone three. So sad. But unless I see evidence of real abuse, I cannot do a thing to help them. 

On Saturday I hosted a baby shower for my other neighbor. It was so much fun. And I met some wonderful people. We had all ages here from teenager to grandmother. Beautiful homemade blankets, quilted and crocheted, were given. Blankets with the baby's name on it, presents for big sister, adorable clothes, practical items. As always, bring a group of women together and there is laughter and a sense of hope for the future. And we are all very happy for this family. She'd had a terrible miscarriage, one that almost killed her, nearly a year ago. Now they are welcoming a new baby girl into their family and they are ecstatic. 

This family is a good family. A family where all are involved in the process of parenting, loving and raising the children. And what a difference it makes. Their first child is a delight--a bundle of love and affection filled with hugs and enthusiasm for all she greets. I have no worries for this family.

Two days: two views. 

Today we are focusing on family here at home. First my darling daughter has an early voice lesson. Off to the best voice coach we go. Then when we return, we've planned omelets and bacon we three. Then the usual homework and hanging out, grilling tonight, chillaxing with each other. Our daughter is 14, almost 15, and she is a mature (usually) and giving individual with optimism for her future. I'd like to think we had a bit a of a hand in guiding her in that direction. 

We have three stories this weekend. One a sad family filled with characters that could be in a OPRAH Book Club novel. In another, we have an Inspirational Love Story filled with family and love and values. In ours? Well, I guess we are the contemporary romance version of a SuperRomance. My DH and I met nearly 24 yrs ago, had a whirlwind romance and got married after six weeks! The real work didn't begin till after we said our vows. But we had one mutual goal, one plan, from which we never veered: we started our family when we became a couple. Neither one of us had great family backgrounds, I on my own at 16 and he without a dad early in life. But we were determined to have a strong family. Our family may not be a big one. But it is a strong one.

I wonder why some people fail to see that family requires effort?