MISSING FAMILY

Last night I had the opportunity to watch three of my grandchildren while mom went to Bunco Night with her neighbors. They were good for me and did what I asked. But, being with them makes me miss my other daughter's family.

Leanna along with her husband Stacy and their children Madeleine and Xavier live in Houston, Texas. Maddie is almost 7 years old and Xay will be 4 in August. They are great kids who live life and play hard. When I have the chance to visit with them, we have so much fun and I love to hear "Nana, Nana's here!" Of course, I love hearing it here in Minnesota as well but I don't get to hear Maddie and Xay voices that often.

Leanna sends me pictures every once and a while. More often now that she has a iphone. The pictures are usually of the kids doing something cute from sitting eating a hot dog to swimming in Grandma Romie's pool to dancing to the music. Maddie will usually stop what she is doing a "pose" while Xay just keeps right on with what he is doing.

Leanna and Stacy take the kids to lots of different parks, museums and the rodeo. They go to the movies once in a while but are now focused on looking for a new apartment. After 8 months of living with Grandma Romie, it's time to move out. Leanna has found a job she loves (timing for a job in MN came just two weeks too late) and Stacy is up for a promotion (keep your fingers crossed). Today I think Stacy is going to call around looking for a 2 bedroom place they can call home. One good thing will come out of this, they have to come to MN to get their stuff out of storage so we will get to see them. Of course, that means we have to give back the big flat screen TV we have in our family room. they didn't want to put it in storage we agreed to have it in our family room to use. Guess we'll just have to buy ourselves our own.

It is so hard to have family live so far away. It's too far for a car ride and too expensive to jump on a plane when you want to see them. Leanna is my second child and having her so far away sometimes hurts so much I just sit down and cry. Those times usually come on the heels of seeing a cute picture of the kids, hearing a funny story or listening to Leanna and her issues and not being there to comfort her. You watch this tiny baby become a toddler, go to school, go to college, get jobs, fall in love, get married ...... You don't stop being a "mom". They will always be your child and you hurt when they hurt and you're happy when they're are happy.

If Leanna and Stacy get a chance to read this, I hope they know how much I love them, how much I miss them and how much I wish them only happiness. In my heart I know you must live your life your way, but that doesn't mean I still won't always keep a glimmer of hope you will find your way back to MN at some point in time to live and work.

Missing family sucks but you grin and bear it and know that you have a warm place to visit in the winter!