Unfiltered, Honest, and Loving Times of A Woman and her CRAZY, but Happy Life!!!

This February 14th brings many old and new emotions.  It would have been my BFF's mother's (fondly known has Grand Jan) 83rd birthday.  I remember her favorite cake was "Red Velvet" and she was celebrated in style.  Janice was one amazing lady and I was blessed to have her in my life.  Also, 20 years ago I took out an ad in the Washington Post that read, "Katrina, will you Be Our Valentine?  Welcome to your new family.  We love you."  I still have that ad tucked in my bible. (Katina is our goddaughter and the reason we have our Jeffrey.  Another story for another day). This year is a different type of love.  The love of a child you are blessed to have in your life. Alyssa is the type of young lady who smiles and fills the room with sunshine.   She appreciates the "little things" like a Valentine's Day card with kittens and a box of chocolates that has a sweet kitten on the front.  "I am going to save this", she says and smi...

Many of you know that our son is adopted.  I still remember the painstaking moments of waiting for the call saying that a mistake had been made and that he would not be coming home to us.  Finally came the day when I held him in my arms and our family was complete,  however here we are again. Now fast forward 15 1/2 years later and my life changed again when 10 months ago then a 13-year-old, hazel eyed, brown hair, 5'7 cutie pie stole my heart.  She came into our family like a soft whisper.  She never asked for anything but to be loved and respected.  She spent many summer days with us, 4th of July, and then last August she came to live with our family.  As time went on her being here was like second nature.  She is not a guest she is family. Tomorrow we go to court to decide now where this beautiful 14-year-old girl where begin to find her forever home.  She has been thrown from pillar to post.  She has struggled with the security o...

It's the day after Christmas and I am not going to lie it had to be one of the worst Christmas Day's I have ever had.  We have all had those days when there are many family members and here comes DRAMA.  Knocking at the door and begging to be let inside.  So what do I do I let DRAMA come right on in and he (and notice I said HE) brings a friend called TRUST.  Yelp, here they come walking in like they didn't have anywhere to be except my life. I have learned today that TRUST takes time.  I mean real TRUST.  I don't care if it's a friend, spouse, or child.  I immediately feel a connection with someone and for some oddball reason, I just assume they feel the same way back.  WRONG (Drama is laughing can you hear him?).   However, by the time I realize what I have done I have given away the farm, the livestock, and half the house (literally).  I am thinking WTH have I done.  I am kicking myself for giving too much to fast and wond...

That is one thing about being part of this "fandom" you really don't know the people you interact with well until maybe years after you have met them.  For me I may interact with someone everyday or a few times a month, but I only see them maybe a few times a year at a Con.  While at the Con your time is spent at panels, waiting in lines for Photo Ops, and Autographs.  Very rarely is there any quality time spent getting to know the other people you have met over Social Media.  Sure you may try to catch them during down time, plan a dinner, or a drink, but there are many moving parts. Then I have been blessed with people I consider some of my closest friends.  Not really because of our mutual love for Lana but because I have found that their hearts are most similar to mine.  They care about the things I feel passionate about or the causes and challenges that face our world seem to be the forefront of their minds as well.  They are the friends you coul...

I know that one day I'll be my mother.  I will be wishing my kids and grandkids lived closer.  I will be looking back at my life and think I should have done this or that differently.  I will reminisce about the time I did this or that, went here or there, etc., but I am not there yet. Where I am is watching my Mother-In-Law spending the remainder of her life in a place that is not home.  A place filled with strangers that care for her every need but it's not home.  Pictures hang on her wall to remind her she has grandchildren.  She has a Steeler's and WVU blanket on her bed to remind her she is a fan.  She looks out the window by her bed to remind her of the seasons, day to night, and is the sun shining or is it raining outside.  She sings hymns to remind herself she is Christian with a strong faith and that God will never forsake her but set by her bed until she falls asleep. None of this is easy.  My two best friends both went through ...

So, has most of you know I have been blessed with an amazing foster daughter, but with these moments come challenges.  Challenges of being a "mom" to "two" teenagers, dealing with new emotions facing the family, making sure she knows no matter what I love her and that I will protect her, and that her holiday's will be joyful and time will be spent with her brother's and mother. However, when you are 14 years old and you have been dealt a "crappy" hand you just sometimes don't believe what you are told.  I know even as an adult I have been told things I believe are true but then the truth becomes questionable.  I don't think people intend to tell you what you want to hear but they do. For whatever reason the words just come flowing out of their mouth and before you know it those words are imprinted on the heart and mind of that other person. Today's challenge, "Think before you speak".  Make your words count and make sure i...

So much has happened this year to our family.  We have been blessed to have a wonderful young lady who is now part of our family.  Alyssa is smart, loving, beautiful and so many other wonderful things I don't think I could put everything in a blog.  She has won the heart of me, Skip, our family but most of all our son. My mother in law has been moved to facility closer to our home in Richmond.  Although it has been an adjustment on the family I don't think I would want it in other way.  We visit her 2 to 3 times a week (sometimes more).  I think the nurses probably dread to see me coming because I am always asking a million questions and making sure she is getting all she needs.  With my father in law dealing with his own health challenges it made since to bring her closer to us and her other two children. So today I am grateful.  Grateful for the new "daughter" God has given me and my mother in law who is closer. All My Love, Rae💗