Heather lost her beloved Sera this week.  I have so many pictures of Heather and Sera, wish my scanner worked so that I could share them in this tribute.  Heather loved Sera as her best friend for many years.  She lived on the back of that horse when she was growing up.  I have memories of Mom and I leaving the farm and looking out the side window and here comes Heather bareback on Sera just a flying through the pasture along side us.
  
There was even an article in the paper about Heather (about 13 at the time), Sera and Sky.  This was a common sight in those days.  You never saw Heather without Sera.  When Heather got involved in the Berrien County Youth Fair, she was awesome to watch.  She got involved in contesting with Sera where  she won Grand Champion several years, trophies and ribbons galore.  We all loved to see Heather ride.  She still has her love for horses and was fortunate to have had a home for Sera to spend her final days with her.  

Sera was very lucky to have had Heather in her life.  No one could have loved that horse more or care for her the way she did.  Heather told me "it's the circle of life".  It doesn't make it any easier.  All we can do is send Heather our love, prayers and best wishes during this difficult time.  Sera may be gone, but, gratefully, she has left us all with some beautiful memories of a time in Heather's life that will never be forgotten.
 

Funny how you can be away from the place you were raised for over 30 years and still refer to it as "home".   The last few times I have been to Arkansas, I have stayed at my Daddy's house, in my old bedroom and it has done something to me.  It has given me a longing to be back where I belong. 
I love my Daddy and I loved getting to spend time with him.  I never realized how much I am like him or how much I have missed him.  I just don't know how to cook, guess he will have to teach me how to do that too.  Maybe it is because some of my fondest memories of growing up were with my Daddy.  Memories including sitting on his lap and him reading stories from his Bible, asking me "if I had a boyfriend", caring for me when I was sick, teaching me to sew, to drive and some cooking (which without continuous experience, I have conveniently forgotten). 
This last year is the first time I have been in my Daddy's house in over 20 years.  We were not welcome at his house as long as he was married and his divorce a couple of years ago finally changed that.  For over 20 years, my time with him was limited to a few hours once a year at a park or the local cafe.  It was just not enough time!
My Daddy needs me, that is a feeling that I fight daily to keep me in Indiana until I can make the arrangements to get home. 

Nothing like getting started on projects and something breaking on you.  First, it was the computer which died on me last week.  Thank God, Luke knows how to rebuild them.  He saved my hard drive which has all my genealogy information on it - I sure wouldn't have wanted to start all over.  I had to do that a few years ago and that was a lot of work then, I would have had a total meltdown if it happened now.  This website is a big help in having a backup.  Not all of my information is on this website though, so, it still would have been tough.
Computer is now fixed and running great.  Thanks Luke!  Now the scanner won't work.  I want to download pictures.  I have a lot of old pictures that I'm sure everyone would enjoy.  As soon as I have a different scanner, you will see alot of pictures being added.  Reading is good, but, pictures tend to say so much more. 
As always, I am so thankful to my little brother, who will save the day again when he brings me another scanner. 

I looked in the dictionary and the definition for "family" is just not suitable enough.  The dictionary states it as  "A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children".  Then there was also, " Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place."   or " A group of persons sharing common ancestry".
To me, Family goes a lot deeper than that.  This would be my definition: family: Individuals sharing common threads that are commited to each other unconditionally. 
This may sound vague, but, there are no conditions to being a family.  You don't have to live under the same roof or share the same parents.  It is not a requirement that you even be related.  It is a caring of other individuals that anytime, anyplace - they know you are there for them and they are there for you. 
Now THAT is family!