Valerie asked: I think I know everything about you. What I need to know is will the Johnsons EVER be back on this side of the country???
See installment 3, when I took 4000 words just to say "I don't know" to that question.
I will say that when I called on your birthday and Luke answered, and had a full conversation with me, it made me so sad to be way out here. I don't want to be "Aunt Julie, who lives on the other side of the world", although I love that when you come out I get to have you and Luke for 24 hours a day and we can just play our little hearts out.
Then I think about my new little baby that you are brewing up for me right now. It is okay to post that now, right? I waited as long as I could. I wish I could live next door and be there for every minute this time around, but I guess it is just not that easy.
I don't even think right now is the right time to look for jobs out West, since the job market is crapola. And it is definitely not the right time to sell our house since it is worth less than we bought it for 5 years ago. Real estate has bit me in the butt twice now.
Will the heavens align and move me back West some day? We'll see, but until then we have lots of fun Wisconsin Dells, Chicago, Daybreak and California adventures to look forward to.
Valerie asked: Oh and also, who is your favorite sister? JUST KIDDING!!
I know Valerie was kidding and didn't expect me to respond to this question, but I will. I love my sisters, and those boy variety siblings too. You should all know that about me by now. My mom jokes that she is insignificant and could vanish without any of her kids batting an eye, but that we, the children, could not live without each other. She is partly right, but I'm sure I would at least bat an eye if I didn't have my mom.
I could talk about all my siblings for days, but today I am just focusing on my favorite sister.
First there is Valerie, my original favorite sister. Valerie showed up when I was 3 and she has been my best friend ever since. We have gone through life more as peers than a big sis/little sis. We shared clothes and traded toys and stayed up all night acting like morons. My whole childhood was a giant sleepover. Now me and Valerie are moms together and talk on the phone whenever we can, and try to raise our kids together even from a million miles away. Valerie went back to work this year and I can't wait until her new baby arrives so that she will be home during the day again. I miss our Monday afternoon, 6 hour, neglect the kids, phone sessions. Valerie knows more about me than most people in the world and she understands my hopes and fears and pains. She believes in me and encourages me and laughs at me. Valerie was sent to my family during a time when my parents marriage was on the decline, and ultimately turned out to be past saving. I know they didn't always understand why a baby would come during such a time but I know why. Valerie was for me. Valerie will certainly always be my favorite sister.
Then there is Miss Kelly, my other favorite sister. Kelly came along 5 years after Valerie so you would think that after 5 years of being favorite sisters, no one else would stand a chance, but there is always room for another sister. Kelly is my buddy. She clears her schedule and spends all of her time with me whenever I am in town. She also comes and visits me the most. Kelly is my spiritual confidant. She will listen to my mission stories and I will listen to hers, which is cool because I think the rest of the family may be tiring of them after hearing them for 10 years. Kelly is also my go to. If I need my kids diapered, or bathed, or put to bed, "Oh Kelly!". If I need a ride to 7-11, or my grandma's house, or to the beach (I don't drive in CA)..."Oh Kelly!". If I need someone to help me when I have a new baby, "Oh Kelly!". If I need someone to fly out here just to turn around and fly right back to California with me, so that I don't have 3 kids on a plane alone, "Oh Kelly!". Kelly comes whenever I need her. Oh yeah, Kelly is definitely my favorite.
And then there is our baby sis, Kristen. Kristen was my original baby. I am 11 years older than Kristen so I was in charge of getting her ready for the day and for bed at night. She was the best kind of baby doll ever. I had such a deep attachment to Kristen. Every time I put overalls on my own babies, I think of Kristen. I always loved to dress her in overalls. Kristen's crib was in my room and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She would turn the lights on and off all night and talk to me. Once she could climb out of the crib, I would find a cute little munchkin climbing in to my bed at night. I can still feel that cute little toddler all cuddled up next to me. I still love that girl like my own baby. She is so beautiful, and even when other people tell me she has an attitude now that she is all grown up, I don't see it. I think she is an angel. At times I have worried about her to the point of tears. Seth thinks I take the big sister thing a bit too far, but she really is my baby, and as her momma I have to say that she is my favorite sister.
Valerie, obviously you knew I couldn't pick a favorite sister but I thought I would just use your question as an excuse to remind each of you how much I love you, and how much I miss you.
Sisters really are one of the best ideas God ever had. They are so much fun, and they are the best thing in the world for your self-esteem. While most women drag each other down and compete, sisters encourage and champion each other. I am happy when they are successful, and beautiful and even skinny. You know with friends, you never want anyone to be skinnier than you. Admit it. But with sisters, it is not like that. I have always said that I am the ugly duckling in my family. People don't know what to say to that, but I am not fishing for compliments or putting myself down. I am okay with myself, I just happen to have been sent 3 gorgeous sisters. I am proud of them. I love to show them off to people. I am even happy to be the oldest girl. I don't care if that makes me old and gray first. Being a big sister is one of the roles in my life that I have loved the very most.
Okay Val, since you don't blog I will ask questions that you can easily answer in the comments.
Julie asked: Can I borrow your baby for the first 4 months? I promise to return it healthy and fat? How many more days until we find out what kind of baby we are getting?
Julie asked: What do you think are the funniest ever moments from our family archives?
Julie asked: Would you rather I came out in August for a couple days, or wait until Thanksgiving when I can stay longer and bring the troops?
Up next: Susie (my mom)
17 comments:
Ahh. You just made me so very homesick for my big sister!
This post just puts to words why I am so glad that we had another girl. I don't know if we'll have any more kids and so I am thrilled that Abi has a sister.
They really do make the best of friends (them and moms) because they are forever no matter what.
I love how close you are with your family. It's so nice to read about.
Okay-seriously-I don't know whether I should go back to bed and cry right now, or just wait until tonight!
#1 I totally understand how you feel except my point of view is a little different because I am the "baby." Either way, I love my sisters to death. I miss them so much, and no matter how great my life is out here-I always wish I were closer to my sisters.
#2 I am SO sad that I am "supposed" to be done having kids, and my little Brooklynne has nothing but brothers. Don't get me wrong (she has some AMAZING brothers), but they are not a SISTER. I tried to talk my Hubby into having one more (50/50 chance right?), but he did not go for it. *sigh*
Maybe I will have him read your blog. Maybe that will change his mind! LOL OR, maybe you can write yet another outstanding post about how great it is to have brothers!
Thanks for the super, sweet post that hits so close to home!
Oh yeah, congrats Valerie! :) I would LOVE to see pix of your babies.
I have always thought of you and Valerie as my sisters. When people ask me how many sisters I have I tell them I have 6. Reading this made me so sad that you dont think of me as one of yours. We grew up together and I have a lot of fond memories of us as little girls. We may not have the same parents by birth. But I feel so blessed to call Bill my Dad, so I guess in a way we do share a parent. Our circumstances may have been far from perfect but how ever you look at it we are family. :(
1. Can you borrow my baby? Only if it is a girl (just kidding, I'm keeping it either way).
I don't know when I'll find out, I have a 13 week appt. on Feb. 18th and I will ask him to guess.
2.Funniest moment? There are too many but I was laughing to myself the other day about the time at Uncle Jack's when the dog was having his way with Steven.
3.I think November is better if that is when the kids can come.
Hmmmm...Dells, Chicago, Daybreak, California??? No Wyoming? It must have been a typo...
Seriously, when Mark was born I was so disappointed. I really wanted a sister. My folks just didn't want me to have one I guess!
Cheryl, I was so happy when you had another girl. Abi is just the kind of little girl who must have a sister, and when I see the pics of her with Maddy I know why another girl came your way. They are going to be so much fun!
Katie, I bet being the baby is awesome too. You and your sisters have always been so cute together, and I am sure it is hard for all of you that you moved away. Do you think you will ever move back? As for convincing Mark to have more kids, you are on your own. Brothers are amazing too though. I have lots of those too and love them all. Every family is so different, but perfect just the way it ends up.
Melissa, OUCH! I am so sorry. I did not mean to hurt your feelings. This comment made me so sad that I have truly given lots of thought to giving up the blog. Maybe sharing all my thoughts and feelings is not a good thing. I have never meant to hurt anyone by it. We definitely share a dad. I love that my dad is your dad. I am so proud of him and so grateful that you found each other. I also have so many fond memories of us growing up together. You were the reason I made it through those first few transitional years in one piece. I remember a time when I would talk to no one but you. I treasure the role that you have played in my life more than you will ever know. I have your name sitting here on my list of people I must blog about, and now I wish I'd gotten to that before I posted this and hurt your feelings. We are sisters. I think there just came a point where we all drifted apart. I started getting introduced as Bill's daughter more and more and we were suddenly 2 separate families again. It sucks! I never thought the day would come when we didn't call to chat but now we never even call when we have a new baby. It makes me sad and while I am happy to know you still think of me, I am very sad to think that my post hurt you. I will e-mail you right now so we can resolve this in a less public way.
Valerie, I almost started praying for a girl until you took back your offer. I am so excited for this little one. The dog at Uncle Jack's was so funny. Do you remember we were trying not to laugh because we didn't know if our cousins would think it was proper, and then we looked over and saw Michelle busting up. That was pretty dang funny!
Ann, I have many adventures still to come in Wyoming, but I was talking to my sisters who never come to WY with me. Gosh, I have offended everyone with this post. Maybe I should delete and start over.
:(
I am not offended--and bring all your sisters here!! Maybe we can turn them all into Cowboys, just like Chloe in her UW cheerleader outfit. And DO NOT quit blogging. We had a Relief Society activity Saturday, and one of the classes was on blogging, facebook, etc. When someone asked me about it, I told her that one of the first things I do when I get home is check out the blogs. It keeps me connected to my family. I get pictures of the grandkids. I hear about your lives. It's something that I do at least once a day (as evidenced by my commenting for the SECOND time today!!) I envy you your sisters and the good times you have had and continue to have with them. Like I said, I just wish I had sisters!!
Such a sweet post about your sisters. I wish I had sisters to have grown up with. I can live vicariously through my own 3 girls though. Annie and Mimi are so close it's scary at times, but I know it will be such a blessing to them in this life. I just hope Violet can be included in that closeness when she gets older.
Julie,
I think we will always have a desire to be back in California, but it depends on finances. I do love Vegas though. Henderson is SO family oriented. There are great schools, parks, and rec. centers. Plus, being a LDS is great out here! We have such huge wards. We are surrounded by lots of nice members.
Amyway, I LOVE all your posts! :) I would be so bored if you ever truly gave up your blog.
Maybe Im just being sensitive because I am pregnant! While it made me sad I admit, I quickly get over things. If you didnt mean so much to me I wouldnt have cared at all!! I love you and will always think of you as my sister! I could never stay upset and I definitely dont want you to stop blogging!! I look at it every day!!
When I look back on my childhood all of my good memories are with you!! I remember looking forward to the weekends when you guys came over. You were always so funny and always went along with what I wanted to play!
Now I feel bad.... I just want you to know that I have always thought of you as one of my sisters and I hope you think of me the same!! Now dont feel bad or stop your blog! What will I do in the mornings if you do???
I love you!!
Julie, your blogs are a wonderful dialog and they are definitely a conversation - the comments are as much a part of that discussion as your original post. I love them. And I echo all the other comments - DO NOT STOP YOUR BLOGGING!
I smiled when you said your mom feels like she could just disappear and you guys wouldn't notice, but if anything happened to one of you ... sometimes I feel the same way, but I absolutely love that the kids are so devoted to each other. It means a lot to know that my children have grown up into dear friends.
I just got Alyssa off to school and ran straight here to see if I had earned forgiveness for my hurtfulness. I, no lie, had nightmares about this post last night. I was up until 2AM thinking and rethinking the blog. Then I slept, and it followed me in to my dreams. I have always said one reason I will never write anything publishable is because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I am very funny about people's feelings. I get over it easily when mine are hurt, but when I hurt someone, it follows me around and haunts me. Still rethinking the blog, but feeling a little better this morning.
First, you never know when an opportunity might present itself. Sometimes in hard economic times the best opportunities are out there for those with a keen eye. In short, not necessarily a bad time to look for a job out west. You never know what's out here until you look and houses and interest rates are at an all time low. Daybreak is a great place to buy. Second, thank you for confirming the insignificance of my existance. When I picked the necklaces for you guys this year I couldn't find one with only 4 diamond hearts so I had to get one with 5. Glenn joked that I threw myself into a mix where I didn't belong, it was always just the 4 sisters, I know that. I love how close you all are (and Jeff and Steven too). It gives me great joy and peace to know that the love and relationship you 6 have will go on long after I do. Am I supposed to ask a question now?
I thought what your Mom said was interesting.
My Dad has often said that when we, meaning each one of his children's families, come to visit them we have a good time, but when we come and the sisters or brothers are there with their families that that's when we have A Great Time.
It astonishes me when siblings don't like one another when they have grown up or do not get along.
There's noone you are closer to genetically than your siblings.
And usually you've been raised the same, have the same points of reference, and if you're lucky the same hobbies, interests, and most importantly, the same sense of humor. I agree with you that there is noone like a sister. All that you said about a sister is true, and I feel so lucky to have seven sisters. I am also so lucky to have 4 daughters, and love watching their own sister club fluorish. I understand what your mom said because even though I am the mom and they are mine and I love them, it's their club.
About the blogging uncertainty, I have to admit I wonder about, "to blog or not to blog," all of the time. Sometimes it feels too revealing, and sometimes narcissistic. Sometimes I think blogger should have called it bragger, and listed it as bragger.bragspot.com.
But, mostly I worry that my posts will be read with the wrong emotion.
I have made references in the past to hypergraphia and a compulsion to write, and I have worried that maybe you thought these were meant unkindly. I hope you know that they were not at all. I read a book called The Midnight Disease about writing, and writing and writing, and I felt like it was describing me. My sisters know this, and I always write jokingly about having hypergraphia.
Anyway, I just wanted to make sure those comments were meant to be taken slightly seriously, but also absurdly.
I love your blog. I think it is the most interesting and fun blog I have read. It is my favorite, and so are my sister's blogs. I look forward to everything you write, and check it every morning.
It's part of my daily routine now just like my newspaper, and everyone knows I'm devoted to my newspaper.
Please tell Valerie congratulations. Actually, tell everyone. It's exciting and happy news for all of you.
Hooray for Valerie! That's wonderful news. I loved reading about your relationship with your sisters. I can't survive without mine. My sisters are like mother-aunt-friend-teacher-doctor-life counch psychologist to me. I need them and love them desperately. Roy and Jack are pretty good too.
Mom, you already asked a question, which you already know the answer to, but I will answer it anyhow.
Leslie, I once made the same remark in a post about how blogging should be called bragging. I debate almost every week about whether or not to quit the blog. Maybe it is too personal for a public forum. I second guess everything I post and I am very critical of myself, and ALWAYS worried that I have annoyed or offended someone. I am too open and too honest and maybe that only belongs in a private journal. But I am so torn, because blogging keeps me in touch with people that I don't see otherwise. And it has reunited me with friends and cousins that I haven't seen in years, who I now consider dear friends and look forward to chatting with virtually. So, I keep blogging and keep doubting myself. I have tried to blog about stuff that is a little closer to the surface, but I am cursed with that darn, all or nothing personality. I just have to be all in, or quit. Maybe my word of the year should have been balance, or moderation?
I hate moderation. I believe in excess.
I worry about the same things.
I always feel like I am the one bragging on my blog. I even erased my book log for the year because I thought it was too much.
But, I love the blogs and I do think they enhance enhance relationships with your friends and cousins.
I loved your word of the year.
I always have a phrase of the year, but this year I followed your idea and went with only one word.
My word is, LESS!
Sadly!
Anyway, please keep blogging.
I wish you and my sisters would post something every single day.
I would read it all.
Post a Comment