Back to summer sunshine from winter cold! (photos added)

[Nasoosie]

GREAT pics, Barbie! I am so happy for both you and Naomi that you get to spend some time with each other on her birthdays. You are like two peas in a pod! All adopted kids should be so lucky as to get to know and meet their birth mothers----and vice versa. I hope all adoption records get opened up some day in this country, with the involved persons' permission to share with each other, of course, as there are still some situations with persons who really wish to remain anonymous. I made sure all my info and conatact info remained up to date for over 30 years until Oregon's bith records were opened up to adoptees by Sandra Day O'Connor. And now I know my firstborn child and her kids and grandkids. It was a real Oprah moment when we first met! I wish we weren't separated by a continent, but we do stay in touch and she has flown here several times as has her daughter and grandkids. You are lucky to know Naomi now and watch her grow up.

Your dad's house is beautiful!

Thanks for the pics.

[carold]

Barbie, loved the pictures of you, your daughter and father. It's great that you are able to be involved with her at such a young age. Not usual in adoptions. I remember when my SIL had my MIL's license taken away, along with undoing the battery of her car so she couldn't figure out why it wouldn't start. She was furious and didn't talk to her for months. It was necessary, but did isolate her more as she was very reluctant to ask someone to drive her anywhere. However, she had friends from her senior group that would pick her up to play cards every morning. Never easy decisions. Happy to hear about your "welcome" home and that your hours are upped. carold

[Travelinana]

Great pictures and what a doll Naomi is...and I agree she looks so much like you. The love between you two just jumps out of the picture. I'm sure your dad wanted to be with you every moment. Good news on getting more time...you are undoubtedly one of the best ones with your great tips. We all missed you, can you tell

[dayspring39]

Glad you went and glad you are back... at that is what I think you are saying... you have made a good move and can enjoy family a little at a time... I had made my screen print very large and could not see all of the pictures then I resized it and there they were! Such nice pictures thank you so much for sharing...
Kathleen

[AlmostThere]

Those are very nice pictures, Barbie. I'm sure you are going to frame them. Could the three of you look any more alike!?
You Dad's place is beautiful. How nice to be right on the water. I'm sure he has many fond memories there.

[Travelinana]

Does that lake freeze solid? I'll bet you ice skated growing up,...I always thought that would be so neat...being a country girl I was constantly warned never to get on any water even tho it looked frozen...Lenora while you're near, how close is 'Almost here" I know you're very active with your family but you are retired aren't you? I am hoping my plans come together for coming to see my daughter on a wide swing to Seattle then back home by way of Arizona. If this does happen I will arrange my schedule for the Oregon GTG. I have a granddaughter getting married on the beach in Florida the end of June. I will start from that point. This is me as Rudy and I begin our journey

[AlmostThere]

Does that lake freeze solid? I'll bet you ice skated growing up,...I always thought that would be so neat...being a country girl I was constantly warned never to get on any water even tho it looked frozen...Lenora while you're near, how close is 'Almost here" I know you're very active with your family but you are retired aren't you? I am hoping my plans come together for coming to see my daughter on a wide swing to Seattle then back home by way of Arizona. If this does happen I will arrange my schedule for the Oregon GTG. I have a granddaughter getting married on the beach in Florida the end of June. I will start from that point. This is me as Rudy and I begin our journey

Oh, I'd (we'd) love for you to come to the OR GTG, Nancy! Yes, I'm retired, at least close to retirement age. Give me a holler when you are out this way. I'm in the SW part of the state.

[BirdbyBird]

The trip was worth the pictures and those memories alone. Now on for the future, expanded hours and a good room mate.

[BarbaraRose]

Yes, that lake does freeze solid (up to 4 feet thick!). His bay is just a tiny part of the huge lake he lives on. We did do a lot of skating out there, and our next door neighbors had a steeper hill going down to the lake so we would go sliding down the hill onto the ice. Very fun!

His house is actually in our names now (my two brothers and me), just in case something happens to my dad, so it won't go to a greedy nursing home or go into probate. We will eventually sell it and split the money, unless my dad decides to sell it. I have tried to convince him to sell it and buy a condo there and one out here so he can go back and forth seasonally. He talks about doing that but I don't think he ever will, unless he ends up going to a nursing home and is forced to sell it. The house is pretty much a tear-down since it is surrounded by multi-million dollar homes now and anyone spending a million$+ on his house (lakeshore property) would certainly want a new, bigger house there.

It was 95 degrees here today, a big change from the 30's and 40's of Minnesota last week! No complaints here!