Angela's family

My niece Angela, her husband Charlie and their children
Rob and Diandra

This is the only family photo I have of my niece Angela
and her family this was taken at Diandra's high school
graduation.
As kids we were friends/not just Aunt and Nieces.
Angela, her sister Jessica and I we were close then we grew apart
because of circumstances beyond our control and even
though we seen each other from time to time I felt like it was different
like we knew each other just cause we were family.

I was saddened by it for a very long time,
it was not anyone's fault that is just something that happens when
a divorce takes place. but to me it always felt like when her parents got divorced
it was like divorcing the family too in a strange way. though that was not the case at all.

I would have loved to have been in her life more and
had a closer relationship to her and her family. I was lucky to
be able to develop that a bit with her son Rob,when he graduated
and I love him so that we talk by emails and I am so proud of him
today is his birthday and I hope somehow he has a happy one as best as he
can being in Kuwait serving his country.
I know he will feel the love of wishes and prayers
for a blessed birthday and his safe return home. blessings
do happen and Lately Angela and I have begun to rekindle our relationship
and I am also getting to develop a relationship with Diandra as well.

I hope this continues and grows. I know the bond will remain in my heart
forever.I love her and her family and look forward to having
a closer relationship with them and maybe visiting
or spending more time together. I hope she knows that I am always
here for her and her family.

she and her family will always be apart of my life and I thank
the Lord for that blessing.
so to my dear niece if your reading this I say
with heartfelt joy
I Love YOU

Kisses and Hugs
always

Brothers

My brothers I have so many different memories
of them I am the youngest and so they being so much
older I did not have a typical brother & sister relationship
that my children have I wish I could have but I am thankful
for knowing them and having the relationship that I did have
with them.
My oldest brother is Jose aka (Joe) named after my grandfather
Joe has long passed,he being the oldest had
the sense of Family first as my parents raised us to be,
he had a persona of being ruff and tough but had a heart of gold.
my fondest memory is of
Joe coming to visit and we would watch westerns from
Gunsmoke, to Big Valley,to Bonanza with my father.
Joe never married, and I miss him.

My middle brother is Robert aka (Peter) named after our father
we lost him a few years ago as stated in an earlier blog
he was my knight in shinning armor
he to was a family first person, and a very strong sense
of straight shoot from the hip no holds bar speak the truth
even if the other person does not like it! when I took
my husband to meet him for the first time he asked
him if he wanted a shot of whiskey my husband being polite said
"no thanks" my brother in his famous self told my husband
"Then eat Sh__!" I was mortified but my husband being the
sport that he was drank the shot and won my brother's approval
when I had my son and daughter my relationship with him got
closer he was quite fond of my kids and I count my blessing for it.
and I know he is happy that I have reconnected with his
daughter's and their family.

My youngest and surviving brother is Anthony aka( Louis)
when I was a young girl I remember him full of life and laughter
he went to Vietnam and came back a different person, quite, kind
of a recluse but when we need him he is there to lend a helping
hand. he being the only living brother sometimes takes it's toll
though because we girls check in on him and he feels henpecked
he lives in my brother Joe's home. he has a son named after him
and two grandchildren.

I think of my brother's often I look back at old photos
and memories and I have to admit I have dreams and
here them talking to me. they are always in my heart

perfect poet

"God is the Perfect Poet
who in his person acts his
own creations"
Robert browning

Slient Movie Night

Yesterday while window shopping at an old Salvage
antique shop Jeff found a old 8mm projector in mint condition
and so he bought it and last night the four of us had the
pleasure of watching Jeff's grandparents old 8mm
silent family movies!.

It was really awesome for us to see family
at young ages and to see family members
we did not have the privildge of knowing
like Jeff's great grandparents and his grandparents
on his father's side. and of course Jeff's Grandpa
(Daddo) rodeoing.

it was a thrill for me to see Jeff excited about showing
these movies I know it brought up a lot of memories
for him and he was glad the kids showed a interest in
watching them ( usually the kids have their own plans
on Saturday's) It meant a great deal to Jeff.

we were not able to get through them all last-night
so we decided to have another ol silent movie night
on another weekend.

I can't wait.

Angels

This Beautiful angel wind-chime was a special surprise
gift sent to me by my dear friend Shanna, with a note saying
that even though we don't get to spend a lot of time together
she thinks of me. I think of her quite often as well
and I thought it to beautiful to put outside.

I have been blessed to have ANGELS in my life
from family members to special close friends
I count the blessings they have given to me
and I hope they consider me an angel of some sort to them.

WHO ARE THE ANGELS IN YOUR LIFE?

U.S. Coast Guard

This coming year will mark 10 years that Jeff has
been retired from the U.S. Coast Guard he served
20 years and I was with him for all but a few.
I am proud of the work my husband did while
serving he helped save a great many lives while
risking his own (like any one in the service it is part
of the job) he had many facets in the Coast Guard he
was the Hazardous Materials specialist and won numerous
awards for implementing many programs, he received many
medals for rescues. he was a electrician and a navigator and
the crew member who does the hoisting of the basket while
on rescues.

Most folks do not know or understand what the Coast Guard
does, It used to fall under the department of Transportation
during Peace time and Under the Navy at War time, However
now it is under the Home Land Security. they do search and rescues
they take law enforcement from sheriffs to drug enforcement and
protect our waters.

one thing I can say in our many stations is that where ever
we were stationed we were always treated well. The Coast Guard
really takes care of their service members and their families.
we had great stations we started out in San Diego, then Hawaii,
to Los Angeles, Oregon, then finished our tour of duty in San Francisco.

I asked Jeff if he missed it he said at times because civilian life is different
than military in many ways. since his retirement of the Coast Guard he
works for AT&T.

brother and sister best friends

"A real friend is hard to find
difficult to leave and impossible
to forget."

Kiel and Kaitlyn are more to each other than
just brother and sister they are best friends
and they are always there for each other
even when they don't see eye to eye on
things. Jeff and I are glad that we
raised them to be this with each other
because when we are gone truly all they
will have is each other. and coming from
a family who lost their parents that statement
is true to me. they love to have long conversations
with each other that is sacred between them
(we can't know unless they feel we need to know)


Kiel started his senior year of high school yesterday
and it means a lot of things to all of us. his school year
seems to start earlier and earlier and finishes just as fast.

He is beginning to start production meetings for his fall
school play. and he is his Senior class School Board Rep
among his other activities. he plans on going away to college so
he and Kaitlyn have been making all kinds of plans
of things they want to do and places they want to
go, ( Jeff and I are included in some of them)

they are so much alike yet so different
which has been very interesting, they are
each other's protector and as Kiel has put it
if a guy breaks her heart he will have to break
his face!( Kiel is a black-belt in Aikido)

she says the same thing she does not want any girl
breaking his heart as well.

where ever the path leads them in their lifetime
I am glad that they are friends but incredibly proud
that they are brother and sister.