i am seeing how intentional we need to be now that we live farther away from family to instill these relationships in our kids.

i love when our kids see their cousins and see relationships that have been forged over years and miles away. it is heart warming when we go home to visit and my teenage nieces and nephews forgo plans with their friends {without parent prompting} to spend time with my kids – playing, going to movies, just hanging out.

we do have some family situations which are not easy – it definitely takes intention and a good attitude to create relationships in those situations.

i am glad you have enjoyed your time with your family.

That said, I have a new family. The people I have met & continue to meet through recovery! I never knew I could be so overwhelmed with love (on a human level). People I used to turn my back on. People who don’t have a degree. People I would not give the time of day to. Recovery and my re-found faith in God are such blessings! To think that God never left me is also overwhelming.

And lastly, I didn’t get to choose my family 52 years ago. They chose me through adoption. But, it is what it is and I truly believe God brought me this far so I could help others in recovery. He let me come through this life with a chance to do great things. The people He puts in my path each day is awesome. And they are part of my family now.

I think it takes persistence, first. knowing that you shouldn’t give up.

it might take honesty and bravery – maybe you could ask directly if there has been some offense or hurt on your part to give reason why they won’t respond.

And then it might just take you giving things up to the fact that relationships go in cycles and they ebb and flow. this might be a “dry” time for a relationship.

I don’t know. Sometimes people just can’t do the distance thing. it is so much easier to be close to people in your immediate proximity that in my experience, some people just can’t be long distance friends. maybe they fall within that category.

i’m sorry it’s hard. i understand that. =(

I am so so sorry that you are in the middle of this confusing and heartbreaking situation. My heart feels for you and I can’t imagine what you are going thru.

I will be praying for you today, that you can find peace (and a solution) to this problem.

and i agree to that any family stuff takes WORK and intention.

(secretly wishing it all could be easy, though)

=)

And I’m so glad you read. i had no idea you did until you sent me that email awhile ago. =)

thanks for commenting, deidrah. I’ve been thinking about you and your sweet family a lot lately.

prayers for you. =)

And you have a really good attitude about it – persistent but not pushy. thank you for sharing that.

i’m scared to go up there to see what has been overturned. =)

I’m glad your daughter encouraged you to make contact again. I’m sure that’s hard after a long time. Facebook seems to be the place for bringing people back together again.