all joking aside (don't roll yer eyes yet, I can get serious once in awhile...LOL)

I want to say that one of the most positive things in my life is coming here to NT, reading about you guys, my HEROES...

all of you posting above me, and many others out there. Fighting, battling, standing tall through it all...

supporting eachother through the downs and laughing with eachother during the ups...

It brings a warmth to my heart, it gives me hope in humanity, it strengthens my belief that through it all: bad economy, war, famine(OK, maybe not famine, I don't want to eat a pilot. LOL) that there are REAL people, REALLY REALLY caring about eachother....battling out their demons, physical, mental and what not...

I can't thank you guys enough...for when I am down, when I am walking around in pain, all I need to do, is come here...and it brings me courage but even more...

HOPE....

always a humbling learning experience...always...

using one of my favorite author's book title to sum up what I am feeling right now:

A Tear and a Smile
(by Kahlil Gibran)

(shoot, I really hate it when I get sappy....LOL)

I agree with you 1000% Who Moi. Very nicely put!

I come to this site everyday...sometimes many times a day....and it always gets me through whatever negativity I'm faced with. I can vent, rant or whine and nobody tells me to "suck it up" or makes me feel like I'm a baby.

I also come here to laugh and read the good things that are happening in everyone's lives and to read all the prayers that are answered.

This thread was a great idea.....and I really try to be positive and look at the bright side of things. But, just like everyone else, I get down and need a shoulder.....and that's why I love this place!

This Summer - within the past few weeks actually - I reconnected with my older sister.

We came from an abusive family, and we "lost" contact when I reported my parents; I decided their (mis)conduct was worthy of introduction to the judicial system via detectives and a prosecutor's office.

I had actually given up hope on hearing from her but... she located me. After so many years of no communication, I'm reminding myself to take things in stride. And, too, things that may have bothered me in the past no longer do. I've learned to accept that people (even with the same family dynamic) have individual coping / survival mechanisms.

As long as there's no mention of our parents, I'm quite fine with things as they are .


Now, maybe I'll decide whether I want contact with other relatives. If I can't determine that I'd be better off with them in my life, then, I'm ruling it out . I do need to preserve my sanity, after all .

Well put Moi!

Hi Sue:

Well, since I never had the pleasure of wearing anything yellow in my entire life (maybe when I was a kid, but who remembers what we wore way back in the day???).

When I came down the block in my new yellow baby doll top, and my black biker shorts, my friend down the block ran over to me and said "I LOVE that top, where did you buy it".

Now, there's isn't a soul on this earth who has ever run up to me and said those words. I laughed out loud and said "In Telco". She said "I'm buying it".

Oh, she's 4 feet 11 and weights 90 lbs. THAT REALLY GAVE ME A LAUGH. Her husband looked at me and said "Don't you ever stop walking??" I said "nah, it's good for you". Oh, she's 57, he's 77 and bought her a house when they married 3 years ago.

That is so funny!! I went out to breakfast with Alan this morning (at the new cheap place). He wanted to go to Radio Shack after breakfast and I said "meet me at Kings". He says 'UH OH, ARE YOU BUYING ANOTHER TOP??"

Got him trained good don't I??? lol lol lol lol

Cool thread Soxmom!

So far this summer . . . .

I have had the chance to watch DD18 grow up more and become more responsible. She has blossomed over the past few months and it is so wonderful and amazing to watch. I am so excited for her to just get out there and be the person that she was meant to be.

Meanwhile, back at the homefront, LOL, I have had the chance to have more alone time with DD16 now that DD18 is working and hanging out with friends. DD16 and I had a really good time bonding doing a painting for one of her friends (3 - 16x20's that line up side by side to make a whole painting). We had so much fun doing it together. It was really special.

Wow Tkrik that does sound like youve had a really special summer. I
think that is what it is all about, dont you?

In spite of it all I am making more time to play with my daughter and enjoying simpler things with my family and I'm loving it!!!

Perfect!!!!! That is exactly what I am talking about. Enjoy yourselves.

Hey Sox and everyone else. Well, after the horrible Summer and Winter of 2007 (for me it was) I decided to try and start living again. We have been taking the RV out and seeing friends, which is very relaxing.

Then, some board buds met up and wowee, what a wkend that was. (RW, Yabbit, AMN and me) I'm still smiling.

Late June, we took a trip to NC to see DD, DSIL, Sis, niece and families. It was wonderful. However, lately the weather's been merciless in IL. We have hot, humidty and storms all in the same day. This is causing some havoc w/my body, but I just keep remembering how awful last Winter was.
The flooding has been horrendous, but thankfully, we are in a dry area.

My DS had his 14th kidney transplant anniversary and yes, we are extremely thankful for that too!. Every yr is a major milestone.

I will be going back to NC in Oct and hope to hit a few major points of interest this Summer yet. Hope you are all keeping cool and thank you Sox, for helping us to remember to be thankful, even for the little things in life.