Dear Tia Masie,

Dear Tia Masie,


I just want you to know that I miss you so much & think of you often!! Every now and then I feel like you are RIGHT THERE, and I can talk to you. It’s such a strong feeling. I know I’m not the only one who misses you. I know your girls miss you tons. I sometimes wonder how their lives would be right now if you were still alive. You left them & us at such an early age. It still seems surreal. I don’t think Beatrice & Alsara would have the addictions they do now if you were still here. You would have kicked their asses!! I think Mandy would still be Mandy….your baby is the only one that really listened to you I guess. LOL!! She’s doing fantabulous!! I’m so proud of her.

I want you to know that I talked to Alsara yesterday and she sounds really really good. Please give her the strength to follow through with this program. Come on Tia…I know you can pull some strings up there.  I’m so happy that she’s helping herself get better, not just for her but for her kids. She did tell me though that she wishes she would have listened to you, and everyone else. You know how Sara is…she really has your spirit, she’s funny, she allows herself to laugh, even in the worst of times. She was laughing and was like, “geesh, I should have listened to my mom, huh? Those drugs killed my brain cells, and I wasn’t even that smart to begin with.” She still has her crazy sense of humor. But I thought you would get a kick out of the whole, “I should have listened to my mom” thing. I thought that was funny. I remember when Kiki first rolled her eyes at me and I wanted to smack them out of her head, I called my mom and told her I was sorry. LOL!!! We live & learn I guess??

I miss you Tia Masie, and I wish you could be there on Saturday for Adrian’s birthday party. Alsara says that they are doing a little birthday party for her. I can’t believe she’s already gonna be 4!!! I think we have to meet her counselor before we go, but I don’t think it will be an issue. I hope not, anyways.

Until we meet again,
Your favorite niece (you all know I was her fave right?) LOL!!
~Rachel

Lent is over, give me my wine!

I gave up wine for Lent, not just wine but all alcohol. I think it's my way of making sure I'm not an alcoholic. Just kidding, just kidding. I know I'm not an alcoholic, but I really enjoy my wine. I love having a glass of wine at the end of the day, after working all day, and running the kids around, and making dinner, and working out. It's like my "me" time. It’s my time to unwind and just relax before I go to bed. I know some of you feel me on this, come on, admit it!! On one particular day during Lent, I was having a VERY ROUGH day. Stress at work, stress at home. I get home, and open my fridge & see a Riesling, just staring back at me.  Beckoning me. I pop the cork and smell the wine. Ahhhhh!!! I wanted to just stick my tongue in the top, just for a little savory taste on my tongue. But I was good….and I stopped myself. I grabbed the keys and yelled for the kids…”come on guys, let’s go get a Blizzard!!” Ice cream truly saved me from sinning that day!!

Maybe next year I’ll give up coffee? Oh wait….I did that one year and my kids made me PROMISE to never do it again.  I guess I was kinda grouchy.

Hope everyone had a great Easter….and yes, I had a glass of wine that night, and last night too.

Cheers!