Jesse's Gonna Return to His Family Today

 Kinda dreading today because Jesse's gonna fly back to New York and we've been blessed to have him here with us for the past ten days.  I know he can't wait to see his wife and son, I'm happy as all get out that he has a wonderful family, but I'm sure gonna miss him.

He's pictured here with Daniel, both of my once little boys in their PJs, hours before Daniel's wedding.

I'm kinda afraid I'm gonna be crying again.

Being the mother of the groom was super duper easy, the mother of the gorgeous bride, Allison, had pulled off an amazing wedding.  Megan and her father, Mahlon, of course, deserve credit also.

Does this woman look 82 years old?  Grandma with Chuck, my brother Gary, and his wonderful wife Mary, who has been my sister-in-law for 27 years now.  The next wedding will be of one of their daughters in Santa Fe next spring.  I truly can't wait.

 Tia Tabby with two of my granddaughters, Marissa and Heidi.

The groom's cake - why I broke vegan...

Sarah texted me late last night quoting a 2005 INTERHEART Study from the book she was reading, John Robbins' Healthy at 100, it studied more than 29,000 people in 52 countries and found that factors related to diet and lifestyle account for 94% of the risk of a heart attack in women, 90% in men.

In my case I have 39 reason related to the other 6%, but going back vegan after this wedding weekend deeply appeals to me.  I've been an opportunistic vegan at best.  I'll do better.

You think I don't wanna live to see Daniel and Megan's children?  Or to participate in the lives of the 24 grandchildren I now have?  That said, there are unpleasant estrangements or emotional blackmailing that's hindered some relationships, but that's the nature of the traumatized children I've raised, some can't, or don't, overcome very well.

Yesterday, as we all regrouped emotionally, Vanessa came by with Evelyn, and our amazing family friend, Michael, brought over Ike & Jane cupcakes which interestingly enough Jack proclaimed them to be as good as a Sarah cake, in that he recognizes quality ingredients versus some cake mix box crap.

Michael brought Nando a birthday DSI game, which he's desiring heavily to play, but he'd left his game system at Deysi's house after the wedding, I'm gonna run by there today.

Next weekend we're gonna celebrate our 25 year anniversary, Deysi, Saray, Marcela and I. We flew out of Tegucigalpa, Honduras 25 years ago this week, precipitating my fall from normal life.  They were easy to raise, preparing me a bit for the road up ahead.  That road from international adoption into adoption from the foster care system only allowed me to begin my transition from parenting one child to then having four children.

My next caseworker, Emily, quietly understated that it'd be um....different when one adopts from the foster care system, signing me up for MAPP classes, and coaching me from the sidelines ever since.  I'd have been lost without her knowledge, most of which I've shared here I learned from her.

She, too, proudly watched Daniel get married, knowing his many successes, something that boosted her as well as me, plus Daniel's youth pastor from his early teenage years performed the ceremony, bringing us all full circle, making us all glad about a happy story. as we've all three, Emily, Anthony and I, chosen challenging life passions and professions.