A Wedding And Some Final Thoughts

The top reason we visited our home state in December 2014 was for my sister's wedding.

Her soldier returned home for the final time and they really just wanted to start a new life together. So when one is poor, working two jobs and hasn't the time or ability to throw a wedding you can have one outside, quickly, with plenty of romance thanks to tea lights, laughter, and family.

Here are some pictures prior the event.

That was just cranberry juice and tea lights, we thought it was funny to get a little crazy though!

Congratulations to Pip and BJ !!!!

We were  also able to meet my good friend and her daughter. Then we left New Jersey quickly, everyone was sick and needed doctor appointments and we were home sick.

We had managed to stop over and see our old home, this was a depressing disappointment. I cannot believe we had lived in such a decrepit, over priced, yet dismal neighborhood. Let me be blunt, New Jersey is a dismantling sort of place to begin with. The roads are traffic congested, everything is expensive, houses are close together, everything costs money and is covered in a cold murky haze when it's cold or a hot oppressive film when it's hot. You get the feeling that everyone is angry, hurried and impatient all the time.

Besides we missed our land.

We missed our beautiful country house, nice people, we missed all the things to do and all the places you can go. We missed fresh air and gorgeous scenery.

The East Coast is not our home, not where we belong and for that we are thankful.

For now Kentucky is our place in this world.

First Post For A New Year Part II

I'm back!

Bringing you an update about our Christmas vacation, with plenty of pictures of the people we were able to see.

Sadly many were either away, sick or too caught up in work or school, there were so many we missed out on seeing and my husband really didn't like being back in our home state. I think what depressed us the most was realizing how unwelcome we were in his family circle. I thought I was just as disliked too, my one sister who has estranged herself from our family for three years finally allowed me to meet a nephew that I have only seen in a picture once or twice. While I have attempted to resolve whatever troubles her about me she is cold and angry towards me. Still I feel blessed to have met a part of her new, private life.

Dagen and his cousin are about three months apart, they played together. It was the first time my nephew was.around other children. Here is the one picture my sister consented to. She made a sarcastic remark  but still got in the shot. We look like we're having a good time, I did and my mother was happy. I pray that my sister will understand I mean when I say that I forgive her and wish she'd come back into everyone's lives.......

Next we were able to visit two boys I miss so bad it hurts sometimes. My little men are growing into MEN. I couldn't get enough hugs. And we also met my husband's grandpa who met his fifth great grandchild for the first time!

Then we made a quick trip over to see my grandparents.

First Post For A New Year Part I

The holidays have had us whirling around on a never-ending to do list!

Last time I checked in I had just arrived back from a short East Coast visit to family and a few friends. We celebrated Christmas twice and drove through many counties just to pay a quick visit.

Prior leaving for our vacation we also had a busy week on home base. We had some holiday things going on, company over and preparation for Christmas. My Father in law paid us a quick and wild visit forty eight hours before our twelve hour drive! I did a few meals at home between our sightseeing, hanging out, hiking, and playing with "poppa".  We also visited underground caverns  that had been decorated with lights and display between visits to the doctor with Clarity and Dagen who had ear and sinus infections. Good thing Poppa distracted them with lavish gifts.

In defense of such spoiling my Father-in-law hasn't seen the children in over a year and has missed birthdays. He decided to catch up so to speak and really bought them things that are sturdy, they didn't have and  have really have wanted for a long time.

To give you an idea of the vacation we took; our Dad left Saturday morning, walking out the door with my husband.(Who was on his way to work at six thirty in the morning.)  I quickly packed, cleaned up our home, showered, dressed and fed four children plus two dogs. Caught up on email, mail, bills then cleaned out the fridge. Josh came home at six thirty, showered, dressed, ate while I packed the van. We were on the road by seven thirty that evening!

The ride was rough, it was cold and terribly foggy through parts of our trip. We were tired, we hadn't slept in twenty four hours and it was night time. Still we made amazing time, arriving exactly twelve hours later, just in time for breakfast at my Mother-in-law's.

We saw my one brother in law for the one and only time, he lives there but isn't very friendly towards us.  Here is the one and only time he was near our little family.

These are the cousins and my dear, sweet brother in law Adam.

This is really the only picture of my Mother-in-law. She was overwhelmed and agitated the seventy two hours we visited at her home.She isn't used to larger families or house guests in her small yet pristine perfect house.

My sister's came to visit me there, so did my good friend Kate and her son Joey. And my long time friend Victoria who grows in grace everytime I see her and is beautiful to look at too. Here is Victoria's blog if you want to check it out.

I'm going to split up my posts about our vacation, so come back for part II !!!