Memorial Day Weekend

We spent all day Saturday and Monday at Jackie's house. Jackie is Lee's sister. She and her fiance, Danny, just recently bought a house together. They are very excited about raising their boys - my gorgeous nephews - in a good house in the country. I am so proud of them. Jackie is such a good mom and a good worker.

Lee and I have spent a few good pockets of time with Danny and Jackie, and we always get along with them well. We feel relaxed around them and enjoy their company. It is very important to us that our kids have time to play with their cousins. Also I just wuv my neffie poos.

In addition to Jackie and Danny, our cousin Jamie was their with her kids. Jamie is Lee and Jackie's first cousin - the daughter of their dad's sister. Jamie is a single mom with four kids. She really loves her kids. She is nursing her fourth baby. She never nursed before, and she is planning for her daughter to be her last baby, so she persisted through the Hell that is the first few weeks of nursing. That is awesome! Anyway, Jamie's kids got along very well with our kids, too. Her oldest is 8 and he and Boo got on very well today.

Jackie was telling Jamie about my wrap, and how helpful it has been for me. I had my home made wrap in the car, so I got it out and showed her how to work it. Jamie picked up on how to wrap it right away. I figured anyone who can make it through nursing can figure out how to wear a baby, so I left my wrap with her (I still have my Moby and my swimming wrap, so its no sacrifice!) She just emailed me to tell me she got it to work and that she likes it. YAY.

Lee's mom and dad were there, today, too, as well as my other sister, Amber. Unfortunately, Amber left early because she and Lee got into a bit of a tiff and she became very insulted . Once she gets angry, she usually doesn't back down or come back at all. She's gone. After Jackie asked them to stop snarking at each other, Lee didn't say a word, but it was too late - everyone else was yelling. I took my kids out of the area and down to the basement - we prayed for Amber, that she would feel how much we all love her, and that we would all learn to be more gentle with our words. At some point, I could hear that she was banging things against the house, and then Jackie's soft-spoken, easy going fiance yelled at Amber and told her that it was his house and she needed to get out. So she did. I was very impressed with Danny.

I love Amber very much, and I don't want her to be unhappy. I am praying right now that God will come into her life and move her in a big way. I doubt we will see her again for awhile.

At the same time, Dad left. He doesn't like the fighting, and sometimes it feels like he wants to leave, anyway, like it is hard for him to stay around. We probably won't see him again for awhile, either.

But that was actually pretty early in the day. After The rest of the day was peaceful and pleasant. We ate a lot of food, drank a lot of drink, and let the kids frolic. I got to sit for a long time talking to Mom, Jackie, and Jamie. We talked, mostly about kids and work. I busted out the Avon books and we talked about makeup and whatever gadgets or colors of eyeshadow we can't live without. Oh, and kids. Did I mention we talked about all the kids? It felt good. The whole weekend felt good.

Family is nice. God, bless my family and help me to be an instrument of Your Will in their lives, in whatever way I can.