Reminiscing:

Yesterday, I went out to our storage area and dragged in two boxes of memorabilia and sorted and organized hundreds of cards and letters. We were thinking about going to the Sisters Rodeo and parade, but it was raining really hard and we ended up watching t.v. while I worked on my project.

I started out looking for a picture of my friend Keri's yellow mustang, but I never did find one. I did rediscover photos, cards and letters from people in my past ... from junior high, high school, ex's, friends that I have lost touch with, my church family, my daycare people ... so many who have cared about me and have been part of my life for a little bit or for a long time.

There were lots of letters from my friend Jody and from my friend Patty. After I was done putting everything away, I read Jody's letters for hours. They began in 1983 and ended in 1999. She is such an excellent writer, and documented the comings and goings of her family and the building of their cabin in Northern Idaho. I am going to try to call her today and say hello, after all these years of drifting apart.

I have lost touch with so many of my women friends since I moved from the McKenzie, and I miss them. I became a single mom, I moved 2 1/2 hours over the mountain, I was going to school full time and working part time ... and I settled into my life over here. I guess that is how it goes sometimes, but I am going to at least try and say hello to those who were there for me.

I found a letter that I wrote to Jody after Nigel was born, but I guess that I didn't get it sent. It is kind of funny, so I thought I would share some of it here.

July 10, 1990

Dear Jody,

Thank you so much for your letter ... I loved it. This is the first one I have written to anybody ever since Nigel has been born.

I am so in love with that little baby - he is such a sweetheart. He's very happy and content - we are blessed. Nigel is 4 1/2 months now, laughs, sleeps from 8-10 hours a night, eats cereal and fruit, and I am still nursing. He likes his walker a lot. It is so fun to be a mom of a baby again.

Kari and Kristin are a lot of fun too. Kari is 9 1/2 and Kristin will be 8 in a month. They are in Vacation Bible School this week and are coming home with sayings such as: "Kristin, if you don't bring me a glass of water too, then you are not showing God's love." (If all else fails, use guilt and bring in God, I guess.)

Kari is starting to develop a bit already and asked me if, when I got an extra $30 or $40 dollars if I could buy her a bra. (I guess that she is thinking anything that important probably costs a lot!) Kari has been playing coach pitch softball, and they have won 7 out of 9 games. The playoffs begin this weekend, and it is really fun to watch their games. I enjoy it much more than soccer.

Kristin is Ms. Entrepreneur, always thinking of ways to earn money and therefore very helpful. She is probably going to be in the TAG (talented and gifted) program this fall. She is a hard worker with a good sense of humor ... with a tendency to boss her older sister around a lot. They both are crazy about Nigel, as he is about them.

Love,

Kath"