Yesterday at Thanksgiving, my mother-in-law, who does NOT know our religious beliefs, looked up at our Goddess plaque and asked what it meant. My husband decided it might be the opportune time to tell her the truth. He sat her down and started talking to her about our 20th anniversary in which we're planning to renew our vows by having a handfasting. Now you have to understand that my mother-in-law was very sheltered growing up, got married at 17 and at 62 and on her second marriage is still extremely naive about many, many things. She is, however, an absolutely wonderful woman who has treated me more like a daughter than my own mother has. Anyhow, he went on to explain handfasting and why she would be the only family on his side invited (whereas my aunt and three uncles and their families are all invited). He very nervously explained everything to her, simplified of course, but in as much detail as she requested. Finally, after about a half hour of him talking and her asking questions, he looked at her and simply said, "Thank you for not leaving already". She stood up, walked over to him, and with tears in her eyes asked him if he's ever heard the saying that "a mother's love is unconditional"? She then turned to me and told me that the same goes for me and that I'm more daughter than daughter-in-law and that she knew we'd been searching for a very long time and that she's glad we were finally able to find our path... together.

So.... another family member who doesn't completely understand but DOES completely accept.  I'm so grateful to the Lord and Lady for blessing me with such an accepting mother-in-law.

I've been feeling so disconnected lately... spiritually, personally, professionally, physically, emotionally.  I just don't know how to get back into the groove of being... me.  That's it.  No great, intense deep thoughts here... just a statement.  Sorry.

How do you teach an intern who has no desire to learn or even work for that matter?  I've tried teaching him how to POLITELY answer the telephone, how to make a file, how to file in general, how to put away supplies, how to do reports, how to greet visitors to the office... all to no avail.  It seems he'd rather come in late, leave early (his ride shows up early and he always has to leave when his ride gets there instead of his ride waiting until his work day is over), read the newspaper and stare at a blank computer screen.  It's very frustrating to be responsible for someone who has no sense of personal responsibility.  On the bright side... only another week and a half and he's off to college to major in............. business management!  LOL

We're trying to refinance.... I never knew that landscaping means nothing when it comes to the value of a property.  I'm so angry.  My husband worked SOOOOOOOOOOOO hard on building a beautiful stone wall.... it took years because he could only do it on weekends and after work.... and the appraiser comes today, says it looks pretty but it raises the value by $0.  That's a lot of work and money for a background for prom pictures.

 

 

I can't stand my daughter's boyfriend.  I really, really can't stand this kid.  They've been together just over a year and he's extremely controlling and emotionally abusive.  He's even got her convinced she has no friends (she's very popular in school... the favorite for next year's football and wrestling cheerleading captain).  I used to like the kid... that was before Katie broke up with him a couple months ago and he started stalking her.  She ended up taking him back because whatever... she's 16... what's the reasoning??  I have no idea. 

I'm trying very hard to concentrate on NOT putting him down because then she feels the need to defend him.  I'd rather kill him with kindness but it's so hard to bite my tongue when I can't even be in the same room with him.  I literally have to leave the room when he comes to the house.  I know that the more I fight her, the closer they're going to get.... her words are "no one has to understand... only us"... the last thing I want to do is make this any more romantic for her.  I don't want to alienate her either.  It's just so frustrating that she won't open her eyes to the reality of what life would be like with him.

Right now... at this point in time... I've basically decided to concentrate on her, on how much we love her and hoping she remembers that no matter what happens and what choices she makes, we'll always be there for her.