Absence…

 

For the past few days I have been feeling a little blue, mostly missing my family and friends back home. (That sounds so strange to me.) I know, I am only and hour and a half to two hours from all of my family and friends, but that is further than I have ever been. I was born and raised with my entire family all within 30 minutes of each other!

We were the epitome of an American family. We got together for every, and I mean every, holiday/birthday. We even had an annual “Women’s Week” vacation that all of the women in the family would go on. Of course over the years as our family grew (in leaps and bounds) things had to change some, still these changes were minor. Mainly moving family gatherings from Mamaw Betty Boop’s (my great-grand mother) house, to a hall. The only thing that did stop altogether was the “Women’s Week”. My great grandpa got sick so mamaw Betty Boop couldn’t leave him, and we couldn’t leave her…

So, as you can see I have never been away from my family for an extended amount of time. Even If I didn’t see someone for a few weeks, or even a month. I knew I could always call them up and get together, whenever… Now, that is no longer the case. My mom has 3 kids at home still, 17, 9 and 5! So needless to say between picking up from school, girl scouts, orthodontist appointments… and the list goes on. She can’t exactly jump in the car and drive 2 hours whenever she wants. My aunt also has her own kids from 13-7, my grandma is raising her 2-year-old step-grand-daughter, and my great grandma doesn’t like to drive much anymore… So my family is all busy with their own lives and kids, but they all have each other close by… I guess I just feel isolated? I’m not quite sure if that’s the right word for the situation because I’m not blaming anyone. I know this is what happens in life, it’s just a harder pill to swallow than I expected.

I guess the old adage, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”, is true. Then again maybe it should read that “Absence make the heart grow heavy”… That’s how I feel right now… Thankfully I have a “Guide Book” if you will. That helps me out in my times of trouble, and a “Guide” who uses many ways to speak to me and show me that everything will be ok!

This is the inspiration sent to me from above, thru a FB friend…

 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. {Psalms 61:2}

my sisters

me and 3 of my sisters

Ana and her cousins

aunt & uncle

mamaw “Betty Boop”

my great grandparents

my best friend @ her wedding

my cousins

my grandma & “her baby”

me one of my best friends and my sister-in-law

My mommy and Andy

My in-laws (or as I like to say my mom and dad in-love)