Like the Brady Bunch.....NOT !!!!

 

I must admit when Carl and I first got together, we had this idealized vision of our families becoming close. We thought all the kids would get along...like they had known each other for years. And we held on to that way of thinking for as long as we could. But like my daughter Kim said to me: "Mom...we are all adults. It's not like we grew up together...and we're not gonna' be best friends." Sadly, she was right. My kids and Carl's kids are.....uh....let's just say they have nothing in common. Having said that, let me add that we tried very hard to include all the kids in every family gathering and holidays, etc. with limited success. It only works if everyone wants the same thing. Obviously, that was not the case. Like I've said before, nothing is really 'black' or 'white'....It is what it is and we're trying to make the best of that.

 

On a lighter note, Carl and I are doing better than ever. I FINALLY quit ragging him about his past...praise the lord !! And Carl says...'whew, it's about time !' And it was...for sure !! I had to turn it over to God or we were not going to make it. So now we are laughing, loving and planning a wonderful future together. We have so much we want to do...starting with selling this big ole house and finding a smaller one...getting rid of all this stuff...and just living a simpler life.

 

We are very proud of ALL our grand kids...there are several geniuses in the bunch, a couple of artists and some actors (aka hams) in the making. And NO, we are not prejudiced ! Tee hee...And our newest addition, Adam Richard Stooksbury, is already a world traveler...and he's only 2 1/2 months old ! He just watched his Daddy run a marathon in Ireland. So most things are right in our world...and that's all we can ask for.

 

Moving in the right direction

Carl and I are wanting to sell this big house and buy something smaller...with maybe a few acres. There's lots to do before we're ready to sell though. Purge, purge and purge some more !! We haven't started looking but hope to soon. Carl is working 10-7 5 days a week so our time is limited. He feels great about contributing to our retirement funds. I really never cared if he did or not but it's important to him.