It's a new month, July 2011. This new road I am on is exciting. No matter how well my book sells, the imagination I am able to write down is fulfilling in so many ways. For one, I look at the words I type, reread and think 'wow, I just wrote that. No way.' But then all the hours I put in writing, reading, editing, and rereading, I know I did write every word and struggled over every idea and the direction it would take. Some days the writing flows and other days, the writing stands still. Sometimes I have to tell myself to set the computer aside and forget about it and enjoy just my family.

Speaking of family, we spent last week in Newport, AR with my husband's mother's family. The Madison's. Though Grandpa Hozie, died last year, Granny Madison is still alive and somewhat well. They were the proud parents to thirteen children (one did sadly die as an infant.) When these children were grown and had families of their own, they decided to meet every year. I have been going to the Madison reunion for eighteen years now. All cousins are grown and with families of their own. Each year, I have yet to see an Aunt or Uncle miss(most live in AR, one in MO, one in AZ, and one in Louisianna). Cousins (each scattered) who miss one year, will make it the next, and several never miss (there are about three that only come occasionally), and now the third generation is following in this tradition. How long it will continue is anyone's guess. Even after Granny Madison is gone, I think everyone will still get together. They are a close, God loving family. And I am proud to be a part of their heritage. It warms my heart to see a family this big want to get together to laugh and talk and just hang out together because they like each other. I hope my children are as blessed as they grow older and form families of their own, to stay in contact with each other just because they like each other.

My own family is stretched between OK and MO, one in KS, but there are no get togethers like the Madison's. I have asked for a Price reunion (my mother's side), but no one seems to want to or have the time. So I guess my memories will have to suffice. My sister lives in OK and I miss her very much, while my niece is set to take off for Europe for an indefinite time, I miss and will miss her too.

There are other, family members I haven't seen or spoken not quite a year now, but roads do go both ways. I won't say anymore on that. Some of you may be able to understand without knowing the particulars. I guess I shouldn't let hurt dig a cavern so deep that it doesn't heal. I know my children will miss out if I do. I wrote on my blog last year about my feelings on the situation, but I deleted it after awhile. I really don't know if betrayal is the right word to use in the situation.

I guess that in every family, there are times of good and bad. The good is easy to deal with while the bad takes some effort to try and heal. But no matter the size of your family or the type of family that binds you together, you are bound.

If only everyone would take my advise, even me: love each other, forgive each other, laugh with each other, repeat.