Girl Power Part Two

Yesterday my Mother's side of the family gathered for our annual Petty Christmas. (Petty is my mother's maiden name not a description of our gathering)

I remember as a small child spending Christmas eve at Grandma and Grandpa Petty's house with all my aunts, uncles, cousins and various and assorted cats and dogs.

The house was small and not fancy but it was one of my favorite places on earth. Full of laughter, smiles, hugs, funny stories and long heated debates on everything from religion and politics to the color of the sky.

Kids running through the house, the women in the kitchen talking and cooking, the men in the front room or outside talking and probably watching some game on TV.

Yesterday we all came together at my mother's house in Lawrence. Despite the crazy snow storm almost everyone was there. We missed Bec, Kristy, Ric and their families from Tulsa and David and Barb from Topeka.

As I was enjoying the hubbub it occurred to me that I left an incredibly important group of women out of my Girl Power post.

My Aunts Sue and Barbara, my cousins Janet, Carrie and Kristy, the young gals in the family Amy, Amanda, Melanie and Kristin.

These ladies are the essence of my being. My past, my present, my future. We are all so connected.

No matter how long it's been since we've seen one another or how far apart we move. When we all are together....we're home.