Butterfly girl, same with me and family.
A whole year and after the death of a parent.
People handle grief differently, some people get nasty.
The birth of my Grandson brought us all back together.
But, I have notentered into the family situation again without my OWN strengths.
My emotional state no longer epends on those people, my bio family, and it's very freeing to spend time with them if I want to.
However, my Brother is still another story.
We may both go to our graveswithout reconciling.
I'm ver Earthy in my beliefs and he's very Christian in his, though I am left, he is extremely right.
We just really clash.
On day in a park though, there was a man who looked justl iike my Brother, even down to his teeth! And, I couldnt help but want to talk to him. I said, you look just like my Brother and I havent seen him in years.....I asked his name and (drop jaw here) his name was my Brothers also!
I felt then, deeply, that this man was my brother, so to speak, as many/all men are. Not less not more.
My bio brother and I share the dna and the history of our youth, but, that's all.
I can and have forgiven but not enough to continue the injuries.
I feel some people just clash and need not be aroudn each other, just because they were born in the same family.
I see all the rest of my family, but again, it is because I go into the family with my own power, that they can no longer take away.
They treat me with respect and talk nice, so I continue to go and spend time.
There was a time we were so seperate that all holidays for almost two years were spent away.
Kinda sad yes, but, I found a family that was waitint to adopt me, in nature.
The birds, trees, wind, moon, sun, four leggeds......all are my relatives and I am so grateful for them all.
Forgiveness wasnot mine until I could find my own strength and a way to protect meself from further harm.
Now, I can go into the wolfs den feeling pretty confident....
I feel it was almost my fault all this drama.....I was just weak and without my own back bone. It sure is nice to have a back bone now.
I don't use it to hurt others only to protect myself.

I like to picture all hurts as a group of children playingin a playground.
SOmeones going to get hurt, but the intent ususally isnt there....and so, like I child I let the scrape hurt, but don't carry it much further.
There are some bullys on the playground, them, I try to stay away from.

Take good care and enjoy the weekend!
I'm going to the Hopkinsville KY Pow Wow!
It's the biggest one in this area.......I'm excited!

Karen