Finally...

We were finally able to see Bob's parents today. It was a nice time, and while we with them I was able to let go of the anger. It still frustrates me that they always put Bob last, but life's too short to hold those grudges.

Dinner Canceled

We planned dinner with Bob's parents for tonight, but we had to cancel because Bob is sick. He even had to cancel a work meeting today. That's so not like him. He is already planning on staying home tomorrow.

Lucky for us, Bob's parents said they are willing to "rearrange" their schedule because they "would really like to see us". Where was that wanting to see us the afternoon they arrived when Bob took off work & we were waiting for the phone call that they were in town?

Get well soon, honey!!

I'm Going to Say It

I don't use my blog for venting very often. I would rather talk about happy things and good times, but there are times when things that are heavy on my heart must be shared. This is one of those times...

We've known for months that Bob's parents were coming this month. (They live in Arizona, and we have not seen them in TWO years!!) We had been asking them the exact dates for months so we could plan accordingly and Bob take some time off and/or not schedule things for when they are in town. They said don't worry about it; we'll work visits in around your schedule.

Then when he talked to them in late July his dad finally told them when they were going to be here, but had the whole three weeks planned out except for three days. They flew into MKE yesterday and left this morning for Bob's brother's (about an hour north of us) because he has a week of vacation. A couple other overnight stops to see friends. Then they are back in MKE from 15th until they leave. However, the only days they are "free" to do anything with us are the 15, 16 & 17. Well, the 15th is our anniversary, and we already made plans to stay at at downtown hotel. We are not changing our plans. Bob has a case going to trial soon and couldn't hold off on scheduling depositions any longer & as luck would have it, one of those depositions is scheduled for the 17th.

When Bob spoke to them on Monday, he said he would just work a half day Tues so we could see them before they head up by his brother today. They didn't give us the time the flight came in, but a flight number that turned out to be incorrect (or a lie). I checked the arrivals & there were four flights through out the day that could have been theirs. We didn't hear from them until 8:40 last night -- AFTER they were at their hotel. Turns out SIL & the kids met them & the airport and they went out to dinner. The SIL & kids they will be seeing for the next seven days.

When Bob talked to his Dad, his dad wanted to know which of those days they told us before was going to work for us. Bob was very non-committal, and he could tell his dad was getting angry because he wouldn't just pick one. Bob wanted to confront him about the whole thing then, but said he was too angry & would have said something he regretted. He's better about that kind of thing that I!

My in-laws are frustrating! I am tired of trying to justify their actions and making excuses for the differences in the ways they treat their sons! It's always been clear they have a favorite!!

I've read, re-read, and counted to ten twice. I still feel the need to pubish so here it goes out into cyberspace where I can never take it back. ;)

Happy Birthday Olivia

(and Happy Anniversary Carolynn & Frank!)

Happy Anniversary...

Dad & Carole!

(They still aren't taking or returning my calls, but I did my part by calling to wish them happy anniversary! Some day they will come to their senses.)

Bummer!

My brother-in-law, sister-in-law, two nephews, and niece were in town Saturday to the spend the night before their Sunday flight to Florida. We had plans to hang out with them for a bit, but one of my nephews ended up sick and they had to cancel. The moved about 1.5 hours north of us a few years ago & we don't see them as often as we should. I miss them, and those kids are getting so big. Last time we saw Nick (their youngest) he was just learning to walk -- he's going to be THREE next month!

Jody & I should learn not to rely on the guys setting up a time for us to get together and just plan our own visits like we did when they lived here.

Tragedy on the Trails

This morning my brother & nephew were involved in a six snowmobile accident. One of their friends died & one is hospitalized. My brother & nephew are both OK -- thank God! My heart goes out to the families of the man who died and the one who remains hospitalized.

Who Would You Call?

Warning: this could did get long!!

On Monday, December 22, 2008, my dear friend & fellow quote lover, Carolynn, posted a quote in her blog that hit me HARD! That quote: "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"

Since early September, my dad & step-mom are not talking to one of my brothers and I because we would not give them a substantial amount of money to bring their mortgage current so they could avoid going into foreclosure.

Some of you know how my dad & step-mom have struggled financially since my dad had a heart attack in July 2007. He applied for and was approved to receive Social Security. There was a short period where they had no income because SS had not kicked in yet & his pay from his employer had run out. My brothers & I loaned them some money until they could sell the second car they no longer needed. The car sold quickly, and we were paid back.

My step-mom does not work either and hasn't since before dad's heart attack. Obviously, the SSI is significantly less income than they were earning prior to the heart attack, but they still have done nothing to change their lifestyle. They have cable with premium channels, high speed internet, two cell phones, a land line, etc. He purchases pay-per-view movies. They go out to lunch and/or dinner as much as, if not more than, they did before. She shops like they don't have any bills & their income is what it was if not more than before. So, basically, they do nothing to help themselves.

It broke my heart to say no to my dad, but I knew I had to! Giving them the money would have only made a bad situation worse. (They did end up getting money from my uncle, but it turned out they did not need as much as he was saying.)

I have called him numerous times (two since reading the quote) and left messages. He will not return my calls. I know in my heart I did the right thing by telling them no, but it still breaks my heart to be on my dad's "list". He comes from a family with a long history of holding grudges. I would have thought that losing parents & your oldest brother while they are on "that list" would change break that cycle.

So, "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call to make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"

He's Home

After a short getaway to New Orleans, my great husband is home! Hooray!

Confession...

I don't think I ever told you all that my mom is a "h00ker", and we're all proud of her...lol!

Rug h00ker that is...LOL!! The photos above are of the one made for me for last Christmas. I got it back recently because she entered it in a couple shows and wanted to photograph it for the records she is keeping of the projects she has done.

It will go in our home office -- the only room that hasn't been redecorated since we moved here in 2000. This rug will serve as inspiration for color & style. I can't wait to get going on it after I complete a few other projects!!

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is Bob's dad's birthday! They moved to Tucson in 2006, and we haven't seen them since Aug '2007. We talk and email often, but it just isn't the same as being able to stop over at their house at any time like when they lived about 4 miles from us. I miss those days and look forward to seeing them soon!!

Hope you have a wonderful day, Dad! We love & miss you (and mom too, of course)!

Another Birthday

Happy Birthday to my crazy brother! Hope you have a wonderful day!!

A friend is a brother who was once a bother. ~Author Unknown

Scott & I gave you a hard time when you were little. We know you loved it. :) I love you, Joshie!

Birthday Wish

Happy Birthday Dad!

The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage. A father turns a stony face to his sons, berates them, shakes his antlers, paws the ground, snorts, runs them off into the underbrush, but when his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, 'Daddy, I need to ask you something,' he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan. ~ Garrison Keillor

That quote is true -- just ask my brothers...LOL!! Sorry, boys! ;)

Digital TV Conversion

Last week I took grandma to get her DTV converter box. I swear that woman is going to drive me insane with it...LOL!

The PBS station in our area isn't broadcasting digital yet so she gets some other feed for that channel. I told her she will have to watch that channel the way she used to until Sept 1 when they start broadcasting.

The remote for the converter box only controls the box and the power for the TV which had to be programmed. I was very clear when I told her she needs to put down the new remote and use the old one if she wanted to watch PBS. However, she decided she could do it with the converter remote anyway. She turned on the TV, left the receiver off as she should, then tried turning on the PBS channel with that remote. Because that remote doesn't work with the TV it was still on channel 3 and she insisted that she doesn't get any channels at all any more on her TV. She ended up pressing so many buttons to try to get the TV to work that she deprogrammed the code for the TV power button.

While over there today, I fixed the problems, showed her how to get PBS to work, and wrote down all the instructions. So a few minutes ago she called and wanted to now why she only gets channel 3, but there are so many different "channel 3s".

I give up...LOL!!

Another Birthday Wish

Happy 87th Birthday Grandma Minnie!!

This quote describes grandma perfectly: A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. ~ Author Unknown

One Year Later

One year ago today my dad had a major heart attack and emergency bypass surgery that required more than a month long stay in the hospital. Those first weeks were a roller coaster of emotion. I am so glad those days of initial worry are behind us. There are, of course, new worries, but right now he is doing really well physically.

I love you dad!

Fun Day

Some of you may know that I have an uncle who was a youth pastor. (He now works at Cornerstone University). All my life he, my aunt, and three cousins have lived outside Wisconsin. Mostly in Michigan, but also in Kansas City, MO & Waukegan, IL. Even though we only saw these cousins a couple times per year we were pretty close and always had a great time with them. (When the weather was bad, we had a blast playing in the church gym and classrooms on visits to Michigan.) Well, this fall my cousin Jamie answered the Lord's call and took a position as children's pastor in Janesville, WI. Our family is so excited to have them closer to us.

Today my mom, grandma and I took a road trip to visit my cousin, his wife, and their four darling little girls. We had a great time with them as usual.

This is just the third time I have met his wife, but she is the sweetest, nicest thing. She has so much patience with those girls (6, 4, 23 months, and 6 weeks). I know I would be pulling my hair out...LOL!!

The picture is great-grandma (grandma to Jamie & me) holding our family's newest little darling.

Jamie, Denise & girls...I am so happy you guys listened to your calling and came "home" to Wisconsin. I love you all and can't wait to see you again soon! :)

Would you believe grandma is nearly 87? She's very proud of her age and no one ever believes her when she tells them how old she is! I hope I inherited those genes. :)

I have added a few other pictures from the day to my flickr account.

Happy Birthday...

to my niece! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Yes, we have a lot of birthdays from March 26 - April 3! :)

Happy Birthday

to my dear sister-in-law Renee! Hope you have a wonderful day, and Scott doesn't make you cook tonight! :)

Anniversary Wishes

Happy 29th Anniversary Dad & Carole! (Oops, should have posted this Monday!)

I know most divorces end up messy and with ex-spouses hating one another. My brother, Scott, and I are fortunate to have ended up with divorced parents who still like one another. Yes, it took some time for them to get to that point, but they did and get along better now than they ever did when they were married. We ended up with all kinds of bonus family members who loved us as if we were their own flesh & blood. For that, I will always be thankful!