Be aware, this post might be a bit long & and a tad mushy. Allot of catching up to do.
Quick version:
- Rental house is Ulysses is feeling more like a home.
- I'm actually starting to "like" Ulysses, we'll see if I ever love it. :)
- Work is great---I'm cutting bk to two days a week in August.
- Lots of vacations soon to come.
- Taylor's come for a visit next week & then O'Leary's come for one week after.
- Ben actually has had 3 WHOLE days off in the last ten days! Wow!
- Ben is enjoying his new job, although challenging at times, he is liking it--for the most part! :)
- Still no solid offers or showing on the house in Cimarron--contemplating renting it out.
- Loving the apartment convenience in Jetmore & hanging out with Megan.
Recent vaca:
A week ago I headed to visit the Moretti family. For the last few years they have lived "high up", but now they live more "flat" and I can go visit them w/o getting sick! :)
Most of you who read this know Sally the older sis of Liz & I...but some of you may not know the story of Sal becoming part of the O'Leary fam.
Here's my version....
"Once upon a time, there lived a young pre teen gal name Sally, and two "adults" named Pat & Cindy. On multiple occasions paths crossed for these three people--Pat working @ Sal's school and Cindy being secretary of the church Sal went to (I think). But, none of them ever thought that they would be united as a family. Some people call it "God's Plan", some divine intervention and some a coincidence. Whatever your preference may be, these three were meant to be brought together. After a few years of "bumpy roads" for all three, one day they all took a "hard turn right" and BAM they crashed into each other and formed the beginnings of the "O'Leary Family." A few months after being joined together, a "Little Billy" joined their family and a few years after that of a "Lizard" also joined them. Thus, the creation of the O'Leary Family."
No matter what version you hear, Sally makes our family complete!
This story reminds me of the saying "it takes a village to raise a child." Life is never perfect and often extremely hard, but with the right "village people" in your life, your imperfect and complicated world becomes manageable, full of love, and although never perfect, a place that completes you!
While visiting the Moretti Fam, we did allot of swimming, ate allot of Chipotle, walked allot, went to music lessons, but most of all laughed allot!
Quick "mushy stuff":
Bella & Glenn, it amazes me how much you grow each time I see you. It has been such an amazing treat to see your personalities develop and the people you have and are becoming. Thanks for letting me "float" with you for a few days!
Sally & Jorge, thanks for hosting me, I'll be bk soon--hope you don't get sick of me!
Sally & Liz, I am not complete without both of you. The older I get, the more fun I have seeing the different traits the three of us "share" with one another. I am truly blessed to know that real family is not created by blood, but by circumstance and love.
Mom & Dad, thanks for seeing such an amazing example of love and respect for all of us!
"Celebration Stuff":
Happy Father's day to all of the "fathers" in my life!
Dad, you are an amazing dad...although a bit goofy & odd at time, you are a loving and gentle man and have set an amazing example of what a man should be. I appreciate & love you beyond words!
The "other dads" in my life, thanks for always steering me in the right direction when it as needed, thanks for setting good examples of being a "good man" and mostly thanks for all of the love that you have all showed me.
Pictures:
Below are a few pix from my trip and a few of my fav of the "O'Leary fam".
