I'm not in Kansas anymore

A lot of things have happened since I last had the chance to write. My sister and brother-in-law came to visit from Florida. My 'bil' had an appointment with a heart specialist. He has had a pacemaker since his twenties and multiple surgeries. His doctor pronounced him well and told him to quit smoking. I agree. It was good that they came to visit. I don't think my sister has been here more than 2 times in the 10 years I have lived here. We share a close bond. Even though we are far apart we talk alike, laugh alike, act alike, sound alike. No we are not twins. There is seven years between us. In fact, my sister left home when she was thirteen. How can two people be so much alike and not be around each other, only God knows. Like I said we share something. My mother died when I was six years old. My oldest sister kind of kept to herself, my brother, well, was a brother, but my sister (second to the oldest) was always there. In the middle of the night when I'd wake up crying, frightened, she was there. It was great to have her here. We even got to celebrate her birthday together for the first time in a very long time.

Anyhow, they left and then Thanksgiving was upon us. Our original plans were to go home for Thanksgiving, but due to the hurricane we spent a little more money than we had planned, so.... we had a beautiful Thanksgiving here. After dinner we went to a friends home for dessert and fellowship. It was so much fun. We have such good friends! I am so thankful. Of course, there were a few discouraging things. I learned that one of my nieces has a lump in her breast. She didn't go to my mother's for Thanksgiving for that reason. Another niece is in jail. She is only 22. She has been in trouble most of her young life. A struggle with self-worth, drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, she has broken her probation and will now spend some time in prison. I can't say how this makes me feel. I can hardly contemplate what will happen to her in prison. It hurts and depresses me so. I think about how it all came to be. The 'whys' if you will. It doesn't really matter now. I can't get stuck there. I will pray and trust the Lord and His plan. I will write her and love her.